“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.”
There’s a man I met in college that dedicated his life to understanding the way different people relate with compassion. He would literally stand on a street corner having conversations with people about it to refine his definition.
Being compassionate is about being kind and caring toward others. It’s being empathetic to what they might be going through and trying to be there to emotionally support them. The world would be a better place if we saw the depth of humanity that exists in each one of us more often. Every person you encounter has a life-time of experiences, challenges, dreams, and setbacks. As Rumi puts it, “you are not a drop in the ocean, you are the ocean in a drop.”
Compassion is incredibly powerful in that it helps people be seen and respected for who they are. This idea leads nicely into today’s positivity quote - “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.”
When someone is upset or frustrated about something, learn more about what might be causing those feelings and hold space for them to share. When someone is going through a personal tragedy, remind them that their well-being matters just as much as anyone else’s. Instead of quickly making judgments about who they are and what they’re experiencing, approach people with more curiosity and unbiased presence.
Simply being acknowledged, heard, and seen can give someone a greater sense of meaning and ultimately, happiness. Each person is beautifully unique and deserving. They’ve been through a lot. Seeing the goodness within them, with patience, goes a long way in communicating that someone else cares about them. This is practicing compassion.
And you’ll find that just as much as your compassion impacts them, it impacts you. That’s the good thing about doing good - it’s always a win-win!
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