In a recent tweet, the ever wise Dennis Tirch highlights the importance of bringing compassion to all parts of our experience and to the people we find most difficult, not just those people or parts of us we find easy to like. This is so important in our relationships, including the one we have with our self, in order to heal the suffering we feel within and see around us: in our families, our society, and the world at large.
Rather than turning away and telling ourselves "that's not for me" or "I don't care, I don't want to know" or "they don't deserve compassion" can we dig deep to really stay present and try to understand what is going on? Rather than turn away, ignore, hide or dismiss our pain, can we do our best to uncover what is causing and maintaining our suffering, and ask that all important (but often overlooked) question "what is it I really need right now?" Can we remain open and allow ourselves to connect with the struggle we see in others and in the world? Can we commit ourselves to trying our best to take wise action where and how we can? To end suffering where we find it and work for a better future?
I believe that this is the very best of human nature. Compassion offers me courage, strength and hope in times of darkness.
