Have you every noticed on a cloudy day how the colors around you stand out against the dreariness? Although you see the colors as a stark contrast to the gloom, they do not touch your soul. The gloom seeps into everything dimming your perception. In the gloom induced fatigue, even the simplest acts of compassion seem out of reach.
When the sun bursts through the clouds, it ignites the essence of those same colors. The world brightens. It becomes effervescent. We, and the world, are permeated with laughter, joy, and happiness. We dance to an encouraging rhythm. Boosted by the light, acting compassionately feels so right, is so easy, in those moments. We act upon our intent to be compassionate without conscious thought.
Moving intentionally to the the rhythm of compassion means that although our compassion might be triggered externally, we no longer need an external light to bring the effervescence of joy and happiness into our lives. When we are aware, the flares of our internal spark change the mundane colors of the world into something extraordinary. And, that extraordinary is the pathway to compassionate action.
How do we shift from the mundane into the extraordinary? By sharing acts of compassion-kindness. The big acts are often easy. In those moments we alleviate clearly defined suffering. We talk to a friend who is grieving, help someone with a tangible or intangible burden, give money to a charity — these intentional acts make apparent, tangible differences.
But, how do we cultivate a life that is a constant echo of our compassion essence? By engaging in seemingly inconsequential acts of compassion, our spark flares lighting our way. These acts are responses to everyday situations that we may not not even label as suffering. We might not even name our actions as compassion. Not only do the acts hold kernels of suffering but also our engagement alleviates that subtle suffering. Our actions are ones of compassionate respect.
To define compassionate respect, let’s answer several questions. When have you
- Failed to remove dirty dishes from your table at restaurant that required self bussing?
- Missed a trash can and let the refuse lay on the ground?
- Decided not to purchase something and placed it willy nilly in the store?
- Talked loudly on a cell phone while checking out?
- Disrupted others with a loud conversation at a coffee shop?
- Didn’t thank someone who had provided a service?
You need not share your answers with anyone else. The purpose of these reflection points is not to shame or blame. Each is meant to raise awareness of opportunities to share compassionate respect.
Questions answered. Compassion challenge offered. As you edge closer to the end of the year, whenever possible,
- Do not make extra work for someone else
- Show respect by being present to others
- Thank others for what they do for you
- Recognize that you are part of community
- Be a part of community
These simple acts reveal the extraordinary that is present in each flare of our compassion spark. They make differences in ways that you may never quite understand or even realize. These easily definable guidelines power your life through compassionate respect. Take the challenge, I dare you. I curiously dare you to be compassion.
Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Mindful Coach, Compassion Consultant, Professional Speaker, and Author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Vanessa offers Neural Synchrony™ sessions to assist clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Contact Vanessa for keynotes, programs, and consultations.
Website / LinkedIn Profile / Facebook / Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2017
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