The
spring and the stream is beautiful metaphor for the inner life connecting to
the external life.
Every body of water
originates from an underground source.
This sources bubbles up on the land.
What begins as a trickle of drops combines; many springs unite forming a
great body of water.
Our
spring of compassion originates deeply inside of us and is fed each time we act
upon our intent to be compassionate. Spring
overflowing, our actions stream from us and mingle with the compassionate
presence of others in the world.
Earlier
this year as I was walking with a friend, she showed me the origin of the Bear
Grass Creek in Louisville, Kentucky. The
Bear Grass flows into the Ohio River that flows into the Mississippi River that
flows into the Gulf. The Gulf becomes
one with the Atlantic Ocean which mingles with the other great waters of Earth.
I
often compare the flow of Bear Grass with the spring of our intent and the
stream of our compassion when I facilitate my compassion programs. Within each of us is a spring that we fill
through our thoughts, words, and actions.
Even during moments of personal drought, compassion drips from the
ultimate Source into our spring. The
spring cannot be restored through those drips alone. Through our acts of self compassion, the spring
is nourished.
How
can we practice self compassion?
Exercise. This form of self compassion engages our
body, mind, spirit, and emotions.
Walking or running takes us out of our routine and we experience the world
differently as we move our body.
Sleep. This may be a brief nap or a couple of extra
hours asleep at night. Sleep makes increases
our waking alertness and our dreams may guide us to a greater understanding of
what is causing our fatigue.
A Play Day. Taking a day off to do something fun
recharges us. This is a true act of self
compassion when we set aside our routines and responsibilities and reconnect
with our inner self.
Time with Friends. Connecting with your friends in laughter and
joy fills both your spring and theirs.
This opportunity allow us to really be with another with no expectations
except the desire to deepen the relationship.
Journaling. Using both written words and images creates
an understanding of your reality.
Entering into deeper reflection, journaling provides an invitation to
turn compassion within.
Forgiving. Filling our life with “should ofs” and “would
ofs” deepens our connections to blaming and shaming our self and others. Forgiving asks that we suspend judgment, acknowledge
our woundedness and the wounds of others, accept that hurt happens, and refuse
to be bound by suffering.
Awareness. Self compassion requires that we live in
awareness of every moment and take opportunities to side step sabotaging
behavior and live in ways that alleviate our suffering. Only as we begin to alleviate our personal
suffering can we be fonts of compassion to the world.
Self
compassion requires that we decide how we are going to live our life. Will we hold on to the old hurts and wounds? Or, will we shower our self and others with
compassion in order to clear obstacles that prevent our spring of compassion
from streaming into the world?
Each
self compassionate act soothes us, makes us whole, and brings us to a place
where we more readily share compassion with others. Through this sharing we mingle our compassion
with the compassion of the world.
Vanessa
is an Intuitive Coach, Community Builder, and Compassionista, and Author of
Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action
More
from Vanessa & Community Building: www.intentandaction.com
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