Ripples v11.11: Compassion!

Ripples v11.11: Compassion!
The Ripples Project is a tribe of 22,039
who believe tiny actions create big possibilities
1999-2009: 10 years of Ripples!

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PEBBLE
When other people make mistakes, we seek justice.
When we make mistakes, we seek compassion.
The lesson is to give to others what you seek.
-Maura Cullen, "35 Dumb Things Well-Intended People Say"
(Congrats on your new book, Maura!)

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BOULDER
The act of compassion begins with full attention,
just as rapport does.
You have to really see the person.
If you see the person, then naturally, empathy arises.
If you tune into the other person, you feel with them.
If empathy arises, and if that person is in dire need,
then empathic concern can come.
You want to help them, and then that begins a compassionate act.
So I'd say that compassion begins with attention.
-Daniel Goleman

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PONDER

While working on an exciting adventure that I will share more about in a few days,
I came across some powerful definitions of compassion:

Compassion: understanding without judgment.
http://www.timolehtinen.com/articles/psyche-glossary/

Compassion: the desire to help when a need is discovered.
http://www.godonthe.net/dictionary/c.html

Compassion: profound human emotion prompted by the pain of others.
More vigorous than empathy, the feeling commonly gives rise
to an active desire to alleviate another's suffering.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compassion


Perhaps you can spend some time today paying attention to those around you to see who might need your compassion. You may find that after feeling compassion, a desire will grow to ACT on it to help someone else. If you are brave, generous, and daring, you might even take the next step....

Peace,
Paul