“Everything is held together with stories. That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion.”
compassion
Feel Good Tip of the Day ~ Let it Slide
When I was a young guy in the army, I did something I shouldn’t have done. A sergeant caught me. He could have got me into trouble, instead, he chewed me out (did he ever). I was grateful he let it slide. I never made the mistake again. I learned a valuable lesson, We all need a break now and then. Extending a merciful hand often pays much greater dividends than a slap.
Inspiring Quote of the Day ~ Compassion Begins By Looking Inside
“The more you know yourself, the more patience you have for what you see in others.”
Power Thought of the Day ~ Choose Your Friends Wisely
“I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”
NOTE: No matter how right we may be, there are those who refuse to recognize anything other than their own thoughts. Better to leave them alone and to hang out with people who are filled with hope, optimism, and overflow with compassion and kindness.
Feeling Good ~ Being Compassionate Increases Our Happiness & Longevity
Compassion is Good For You
A growing body of research shows that compassion reduces anxiety, depression and stress and may also boost immunity—along with longevity. We’re born with the instinct to be nice: Even babies and toddlers have the capacity for kindness. . . . Compassion actually gives you a veritable high. Donating money to help others lights up the brain’s pleasure centers—which are typically activated by things like food and sex—according to a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. . . . Simply witnessing an act of compassion triggers feelings of awe, admiration, warmth and love, per a study in the Journal of Positive Psychology (which may be why you compulsively click on stories about people who donate a kidney to a stranger). At the same time, it increases your desire to be more charitable yourself. Compassion also curbs the natural (and anxiety-provoking) tendency to navel-gaze.
Today’s Photo ~ Making the World Better
How we treat the most vulnerable among us tells us much about ourselves. Offering our compassion and kindness to all creatures makes our world better.
Kindness Works ~ The Benefits of Being Kind
Benefits of kindness and compassion
Small acts of kindness can have enormous power for both the person being kind and the recipient, whether that’s a stranger or someone in the same family. Many studies have found that kindness, compassion and giving are associated with:
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- improved happiness
- good mental health
- a stronger immune system
- reduced anxiety, stress and depression
- improved relationships
- a longer life
Research also shows that the happiness people get from giving to others creates a ‘positive feedback loop’. The more you give, the more positive you feel. This, in turn, fuels greater happiness.
People who witness or benefit from someone’s kindness and compassion are also more likely to be kind themselves.
Today’s Positive Thought ~ What Are You Expression Outwardly?
Claude Bristol writes in The Magic of Believing, “What you exhibit outwardly, you are inwardly. You are the product of your own thought. What you believe yourself to be, you are.” – What are you exhibiting outwardly? Are you acting with confidence. Do you project warmth and compassion toward others? Is your smile genuine? Do your eyes sparkle with love, laughter, and joy? Is it time for a makeover? Think about what you really want to express, then create it. Practice it each moment and soon, your inner self will be one with your outer self.
A Better Life ~ We’re all Imperfect.
We’re all imperfect. We all get it wrong at times. When we can recognize the imperfections in ourselves it makes it easier to be compassionate toward those we live and work with. We can wave them closer and welcome them to our imperfect world. Our understanding and acceptance grows and is most often mutually reciprocal. C’mon cut yourself some slack and offer the same to others.
What if I loved myself as much as love those close to me?
“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection (Buddha).” What if I loved myself as much as I love those close to me? We don’t think about loving ourselves. Yet, loving ourself means we’re able to forgive ourself, act compassionately and kind toward ourselves, and encourage ourself. When we love ourself we don’t subtract from loving others, we enable ourself to love others more deeply.
