Many
people carry the perception that it is difficult to cultivate spiritual
practices...that a great deal of restraint and discipline are
required to accomplish this goal. We are often encouraged by
inspirational leaders throughout the world to practice love and compassion
in our every interaction and, sometimes, this may feel very challenging given
the intensity of our own triggers and the pain we may have been holding as a
result of them.
But,
introducing the actual practice of COMPASSION may be as simple as
expressing interest and curiosity about how an event that has just transpired
has affected another. Most likely, this would occur after
we have expressed our own reaction or response to what has just happened. Admittedly,
it is very easy to carry on for a while about how things feel to us but what
if we turned to another after we have spoken our thoughts and simply asked, "How did you experience this?"
With
just these few words we have moved beyond the narrow and very specific subject
of OUR reaction and generously expressed our curiosity and concern about how
another has been affected. Whether we have been an agent in the
action or whether the action has been graced, supported, imposed or inflicted
on ourselves and others, the very act of asking someone how this felt to them
would naturally influence the way we might choose to respond.
Now,
with this interaction...the knowledge and awareness of how both parties are
experiencing the moment...we naturally begin to consider how the emotional
needs of both persons are presenting themselves and can be addressed. And, when
both persons feel heard and cared about, things move forward with mutual
support and consideration…and, ultimately, with COMPASSION for each other.
Though amazingly
powerful, Love directed
responses are innately and profoundly simple. They emanate from the heart
and feel generous and joyful and soothing to our spirit. If mindfully cultivated, just a very slight
change in the pattern of our reaction to distressing moments can redirect us
into the flowering of a beautiful spiritual practice:
How
did you experience this?
Marie Helena
image from arocordis.com
Two Flowers Floating, Watercolor.
mysticmarks.blogspot.com
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