Compassion is the Key to Saving Our World and To Living Our Best Selves:
Reaching Out with Compassion for Those Affected by the Fires, Hurricanes, and Other Disasters
The west coast is on fire. Snow has fallen on the tents of those whose homes have been ravaged by water in the southeast. Meanwhile, many Americans are pointing fingers and shaming those whose lives have been forever changed by these disasters, rather than reaching out to help. Firefighters from other countries, even those whose allyship is at risk because of politics and money, are risking their lives to help on the west coast. Can we, as Americans, come together and put aside our own differences to help our own neighbors in need?
Compassion is Key for a Passionate Life — While Many Seem to Have Lost This Ability
I have written many times about how compassion is a key element to living a passionate life and right now we are all being tested to see if we can do just that. We really cannot expect the passion in our own lives to be sustainable if we only have compassion for certain people and not others…or are only focused on our own dreams and goals. As humans, we are interdependent, we are all connected and need each other, and our true selves can’t feel real and lasting joy by blocking out the pain of others. And, of course, there may also come a day when we each might need a helping hand, ourselves. Where will that come from if we’ve mocked the plight of others?
It seems that many have lost the ability to feel compassion. In my experience with the aging community and as the healthcare advocate for my own mom in her 90’s, I’ve witnessed first-hand how money has been more of a driver of our health “care” than is compassion. Of course, this doesn’t only affect the elders of our society, but they are among the most vulnerable. And it is our own unconscious ageist biases that have allowed this to happen to them easily and without protest.
The anger everywhere is palpable. Wars are raging, the world is on fire while some of it is sinking under water…and people are struggling to get the medical care and the food they need. We are at a point of decision. Will we come together to help each other or will we stay in our own tribes and mock people from behind a computer screen from our own comfy couches?
We Each Have the Power to Make a Difference
In The Fourteenth Dalai Lama’s Stages of the Path — Vol. 1, the Dalai Lama wrote “Having compassion, concern, respect, and kindness for others not only benefits society, but is the most important factor for our own happiness.” As I see it, we either go down in the flames of anger or we come together to heal with compassion. Such a choice needs to be made. We each have the ability to decide which way to go.
We may feel powerless to make such a change in the world, but, as I wrote, in my December 2022 blog, Compassion Can Be the Light on Our Path of Purpose and Passion, even our own small acts of compassion and kindness can have the effect of rippling so much that we really can be the change we want to see in the world, in the powerful and memorable words of Gandhi. When we turn away from those who need our compassion the most, there is increased despair, not only for them, but also within ourselves. And, on a global level, a lack of compassion leads to a tough and punishing world rather than one filled with the kindness and peace we want.
The bottom line is that we can’t truly live out our own passion without having sincere compassion. The wonderful news is that, as Jack Kornfield points out in his book The Wise Heart, “compassion is our nature” and that “we can touch into this compassion whenever our mind is quiet, whenever we allow the heart to open.” Therefore, connecting to our innate compassion is as simple as making time each day to quiet the mind and just breathe. And, then take some sort of action, such as volunteering, donating, participating in the political process to make changes that will help people, and emotionally supporting and believing those who are going through a tough time.
Let’s Be the Change
I propose that we all try to be the change we want to see in the world, rather than just complaining about the world, that this starts with an open heart toward our fellow beings and a willingness to help in whatever way we are able, and that, when we do this, we can truly live our most passionate and joyful lives.
You can read similar blogs by Dr. Mara and listen to her internet radio show. Now also on Apple Podcasts. Check out Dr. Mara’s internationally best-selling book, The Passionate Life: Creating Vitality & Joy at Any Age, now available on Audible! And be sure to follow her on Facebook!
