Compassion Unlocked: Transform your life with this one virtue!
Share
I never fully understood what compassion was in my youth, nor did I give it much thought as to what it really was. Having real relationships with people is what life is all about. When we create these deep connections, we can sense when they are in need of support and we eagerly are there to assist in any way. That’s compassion in action. I love what Wayne Dyer said, “When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out – because that’s what’s inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside.” Therefore, I attest that before we can really spread compassion to those around us, we must be willing to cultivate that compassion inwardly.
Who is someone you know that demonstrates self-love? What kind of characteristic would you say they demonstrate? I would tell you this: prioritizing their well-being and self-compassion is a critical factor. Individuals who have self-compassion tend to be more confident, resilient, accepting, and forgiving. Recall a time you were wrapped up in self-judgment. Did it feel good? Did it help the situation? If we can forgive others for wrongdoing, we can forgive ourselves. Treat yourself with the same gentleness you would a loved one. You’re worthy of self-love!
I know all too well how the mind loves to cling on to the past. I’ve spent countless hours, days, weeks, and years dwelling on past failures and mistakes. Finally, I decided I didn’t want to live like that anymore. A byproduct of that was increased optimism for the future. I still have moments where I get down for messing up on a project or not following through with commitments I’ve made to myself. The difference is I don’t stay in that state of mind for as long anymore. When you become aware you are judging yourself, pause immediately. Take a few slow deep breaths and reaffirm, ‘I am worthy of love and compassion,’ ‘I am doing the best I can.’ This alone can transform your life. Working as a carpenter for some time, I made many mistakes. The saying goes, ‘Measure twice, cut once.’ And I did; however, I would sometimes measure, cut, see that the piece was short, and measure again to see how off I was! That happened less and less as my career went on, but in those early days, I was not nice to myself. Mentally calling myself words I’d never say to a friend or even a passing stranger. Often resulting in more frustration, low self-esteem, and a bad outlook on the whole situation. Talk about a snowball effect. I learned to pause and take a time out. Even sitting down for 5 minutes to just breathe. That space I gave myself, mixed in with compassion, made all the difference. I’d get back into workflow feeling lighter, happier, and with a clearer mind, which helped to come up with creative solutions.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the mix of the fast-paced world we live in. That’s why reminders are great for bringing awareness to situations and offering us a chance to have a different perspective. To give more credit to Wayne Dyer, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” How true those words are. Give yourself the gift of self-compassion.