Cultivating Compassion for Yourself and Others
Why compassion is the soul-ution we need right now
“May you live in interesting times” is an old saying. As I write this, we are in interesting times for sure.
News reporting and posts on social media have run the gamut from helpful to hurtful, which is nothing new. I think people who have been particularly crappy and selfish will live to regret it, which is also nothing new.
I think it’s imperative that we all prioritize compassion – for yourself and for others.
Since childhood, this statue of Kwan Yin has been part of my life.
The embodiment of compassion, Kwan Yin is known as “she who hears the cries of the world.” One of Buddhism’s most beloved bodhisattvas, she also holds a special place in the hearts of people of other faiths, including Daoists and Confucianists.
I resonate so deeply with her and have another smaller statue of her in my office. Keeping her close to me helps me to stay in my integrity, and strive to be more compassionate.
Compassion for yourself
Your life may be upside down right now with workplace or business uncertainties, financial distress, or health concerns. I don’t know anyone who isn’t “going through it” in some way.
In a state of stress, we often don’t think clearly. Or we may shut down completely.
If you’re barely getting through your days, be gentle with yourself. Don’t overload your to-do list and don’t overcommit to supporting others.
Prioritize self-care. Make this a non-negotiable. Self-care isn’t self-indulgent – it’s critical.
And make sure you have boundaries in place with yourself and with others. This will enable you to show up as more loving to everyone you interact with, including yourself.
Compassion for others
We are reaching that point in the U.S. election cycle and global political crises where people will have issues with how they relate to others on social media.
Some people will stop engaging on certain platforms.
Some people will unfollow people who trigger them, including old friends and family members.
Some people will, likely unsuccessfully, try to engage and change someone else’s mind.
If you are seriously triggered by a friend, colleague, family member, or famous person who has a view that is completely anathema to you, you can try to tune it out and ignore it, or you can try to find compassion.
Compassion as a practice
You may have forgotten how to connect compassionately with yourself and others. Compassion comes easily for some, but it’s a practice for most of us.
And by a practice I mean we need to work on it – probably over our lifetime.
Voice teacher, sound healer, and yogi, Davin Youngs, released this impossibly beautiful guided meditation with a soundtrack he created using only his voice during the pandemic. It was a lifeline for me during stay at home and the 2020 election cycle.
Right now, so many people, especially people who are sensitive to the emotions of others, are feeling like their circuits have been fried. If that’s you, I strongly recommend listening to this meditation with earbuds. It might be exactly what you need.
Like compassion itself, this is not a solution to the problem, but it is a soul-ution.