“We can’t heal the world today but we can begin with a voice of compassion, a heart of love, an act of kindness.” -Mary Davis.
Although the meaning of compassion is literally to “suffer together” I think it goes much deeper. It alludes to kindness and sympathy. Lately, I have seen a lot of people struggling mentally, physically and emotionally. Maybe it’s repercussion from the last three years, maybe it’s crazy timing or maybe it is new challenges we are all facing.
It is a reminder that we all need to be compassionate for each other. You truly never know what someone may be going through. This also pertains to me & you. We put so much pressure on ourselves to succeed and accomplish so many things. We have witnessed this live in the Olympics for athletes like Shiffrin, Bile, Dressel and Osaka who have spoken out about how overwhelming expectations have affected their health. At the end of the day, we are all human, and we need to level the field.
Practicing compassion for yourself can easily translate into offering it to others. You can start with simple ideas – talk to yourself with a positive voice, walk away from your to-do list and really believe it is ok (somehow it’s always there waiting for you) or take time to nourish your mental health.
Some ways to show compassion for others is to open the door for someone, set up time to bond with family and friends, offer someone a hug, incorporate the phrase “thank you” into your daily routine, offer to help someone with their to-do list or maybe just check in.
We are all doing the best we can do. If we practice compassion and kindness it can contribute to a greater purpose.
