How Can We, Together, Create a More Compassionate World?

Obviously, this question is of such great magnitude that I would never presume to have a neat little answer.  However, I've been thinking that maybe there are baby steps we can take -- just a beginning, to build greater compassion into our lives and the lives of others.  Once we take these steps, we may think of other steps, until a groundswell domino effect for the better is in full swing.  Call me an idealist, but here's my contribution -- just a few starting points:



1. Teach our children well.  Make caring about others, especially others less fortunate, as high a priority in the curriculum as math and reading.  Require community service of all our young people before they graduate, from high school and/or college.


2. Model what we say.  It's not enough to talk about compassion and tolerance.  We need to align our actions, on a daily basis, with this noblest of core values.  Is there someone we know -- or don't know -- who could use a helping hand?  Is there a cause that we feel deeply about?  Can we make a financial contribution or a contribution of our time and energy?  The more people set the example, the more others -- young and older alike -- will be motivated to follow suit.


3. When choosing our life's work, we should consider not only what it may do for our own pocketbooks, but also what it will contribute to society at large.  We need to ask ourselves the ultimate question:  What do I want my legacy to be?


4. We must show compassion and caring toward ourselves.  When we are too harsh on ourselves, too judgmental, we automatically become that way with everyone around us.  We expect perfection, and that is not possible.  Indeed, it is the practice of compassion that will lead us the closest we can get to perfection.


5. Act with kindness at home, for "home is where the heart is," and everything flows from there.  If we consciously treat our loved ones with respect and dignity, we (and they) will gradually and automatically extend that type of behavior out into our neighborhoods, communities, and society at large.




So, I challenge us to work on these five "baby steps," to begin the process of creating greater peace, harmony, and compassion in our world.  They're only the beginning.  I'd love to hear more ideas, and ways we can do even more once we have them mastered!




                                                   ~ Lisa Marian Ames, M.P.S., CPC