Summary

The article discusses the importance of compassion as a means to connect with others, despite our differences, by understanding and practicing patience and acceptance.

Abstract

The article "How to Use Compassion as a Tool to Connect" emphasizes that while we all come from diverse backgrounds, we share a common humanity and the desire to do good. It explores the idea that our actions are interconnected across the globe and that compassion is a key element in recognizing our shared existence. The author reflects on the wisdom of Snoopy, highlighting the challenge of loving our neighbors as ourselves, especially when faced with differences. The article suggests that patience is crucial in overcoming the obstacles to compassion, allowing us to accept others as they are. It also touches on the concept of justice and the importance of setting boundaries, while also acknowledging the need to embrace diversity and perform good deeds without imposing our own standards. The author concludes by advocating for a balance that includes compassion, which helps us understand our connectedness and treat others as we wish to be treated.

Opinions

The author believes that everyone has an inherent goodness and a desire to do good, despite the differences that exist among us.
Impatience is seen as a significant barrier to compassion and acceptance of others.
The article suggests that religious teachings, such as "Do onto others as you would have them do unto you," are foundational for fostering compassionate behavior.
There is an acknowledgment that while setting boundaries and seeking justice are important, they should not prevent us from embracing diversity and showing compassion to our neighbors.
The author posits that there is a limit to how much good one can do for another, implying a need for balance in our interactions.
Compassion is presented as the solution to understanding our interconnectedness with all of creation and as a means to bridge the gap between different cultures and belief systems.
The author encourages readers to actively work on controlling impatience and to respect and embrace our connectedness through compassionate actions.

How to Use Compassion as a Tool to Connect

We are all different but the same

Compassion Image by truthseeker08 from Pixabay

We come from different walks of life, we know our rights, we know about justice and about setting boundaries. And I really don’t care what you think but I believe that each one of us is good at our core. We want to do good and really, we try.

Doing good makes us feel good.

In truth, unless there’s one of us out there who hasn’t noticed, it has become more and more evident that what we do in one part of the world is directly linked with what happens in another part of our planet.

We are connected. And today I wish to talk to you about how compassion connects us.

Snoopy portrays timeless wisdom that causes me to pause and ponder the big questions in life. Snoopy’s lighthearted humor challenges me to learn more about myself and I think he has plenty of wisdom for you, too.

As I was mulling over my topic on compassion today, one particular ‘wise’ cartoon-strip came to mind. And, more or less, here is what it said:

“I really understand, and appreciate how one should love one’s neighbor as much as one loves oneself,” Snoopy starts, “the only trouble is the people next door; I can’t stand them.” — my version of that Snoopy comic-strip as per my memory.

I really understand.
But.
The trouble is the people, the neighbor.
They behave differently than the way I would.
I don’t like them.
Hmmm.

In this example, I find that like Snoopy, we all understand and appreciate how we should behave. And like Snoopy, we just don’t get it how exactly to go about doing this ‘something’ that we ‘really’ understand.

Treat others well

Do onto others, as you would have them do unto you, is one I grew up repeating. I’m sure I’m not the only one as it’s a good solid idea that many religions use as core teaching.

In one form or another, I think that we’ve all bumped into Snoopy’s dilemma. We’re not dysfunctional, we understand the moral.

We know that if our goal is to work toward a more peaceful and loving version of ourselves, then we must strive to live/become the “love neighbor as oneself” quote. We get it!

Yet, we have some trouble putting that knowledge into practice. Why is it that our relationships with each other are still lacking so?

Sometimes we need an unexpected source of wisdom. I do this weird thing with books when I need such wisdom. When I really need an answer I randomly open books and see what wisdom the pages hold.

During one consultation of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson, and the answer I received was this: The fault we often carry into our relationships is impatience.

Impatience? Me? No way!

His assessment spoke to me in this one line where he clearly states:

“The more patient we are, the more accepting we will be of what is, rather than insisting that life be exactly as we would like it to be.” — Richard Carlson

Now you see how the wisdom works! I ask the question and the book replies. Try it.

The interpretation has takeaways for everyone.

Like Snoopy, we appreciate the wisdom but then our impatience weaves in obstacles.

“…they eat different food and smell differently; they dress differently and they even worship differently than I do,” says a didactic voice we recognize.

Yeah? Isn’t that how it happens?

Just lend me your attention for a bit longer and allow me to help. Let that voice play in the background for a moment while you and I do a little exercise on the side.

Gauge for yourself. How well do you do the following?

work on being patient with strangers/neighbors?
meld what you know with actually embracing your neighbors, regardless of how different they appear at first?
Do you love them the same way you love yourself?

Big questions, I know. And I also know that your cultural education has taught you a lot about setting boundaries and about your right to justice. I’m not for a moment contesting these human rights.

Justice, that most crucial idea that should never be denied to any, requires that we set boundaries to our lives as justice is what gives us a feeling of what’s right about life and about how we should strive to live. That is how I believe, knowledge acquisition enters into the picture. And as mentioned, setting boundaries, well that comes with justice. All good, right?

As souls with bodies, we want to do good deeds. And we do; only we do them when they mirror our boundaries and sense of justice. But my lovelies, with the world becoming more and more diverse, our neighbors will sometimes be people with different sets of boundaries and justice patterns. We need to embrace and accept diversity and still maintain an ardent willingness to want to do good deeds.

Bear in mind though, that there is a limit on how much good we can do for another. I trust you know what I mean. Because, really, there is a limit on how much “good” is good. Perhaps a topic for another day.

The closest answer to this willingness to doing good deeds is in finding a balance. And smack in the middle of this ‘balance’ there needs to exist this notion of compassion.

Find compassion

Compassion helps us to understand the knowledge that makes so much sense to us, namely, that we need to treat and love others the way we want to be treated and loved. And more importantly, compassion helps us to understand our connectedness to all of creation.

We come from different walks of life, and we carry with us everywhere we go what we know as the boundaries and justice of our lands. In time we might discard them and learn those of others who show us kindness.

But regardless of how long it takes us to exchange our thing for the others’ things or if and when it happens, we will always be connected to one another.

Let’s try harder to meld and to embrace our differences to feel a connection.

Find Connection

We are already connected. This is what we need to be willing to understand.

Let’s work on controlling our impatience and work on respecting our connectedness.

Compassion is what will center us and remind us of our connectivity. Compassion is what will help us understand that sometimes our needs have to be sublimated to ‘meet’ those of others.

Because what we want for our neighbors is the exact same thing we want for ourselves. Now, can we please have a standing ovation for compassion? It’s high time we did!

THANKS FOR READING. I Wish You Miracles.