Week of September 20, 2009: How Much Is Enough?

How much of a commitment does living a compassionate life require?

Am I supposed to concentrate each minute of each day on how I can be more compassionate? Am I supposed to dedicate my life to expressing compassion in every way I can? How much time and energy am I supposed to spend on being compassionate?
Well, unlike the Tibetan nun in the Himalayas, most of us do not have the desire to spend our lives in solitary retreat, praying for the well being of humanity during each waking moment. We have lives to live. We have other interests. We have work, family, obligations to fulfill. Does that make us less than the ideal when it comes to being compassionate?




I think not at all. The desire to be a more compassionate person is enough to generate the momentum necessary to prompt action where action is needed. The commitment stems from that desire and the greater the desire, the greater the commitment. You need not consume your time in worry or concentration on the level of compassion you express. That comes from the trust and faith you put in yourself once the desire is expressed and the commitment follows.

It is important to discover the trigger points that block your compassionate side. Anger is a good indicator that your compassion is taking a back seat. But there are others. Complacent withdrawal of emotional attachment – do you unplug emotionally from your experience when you are afraid or anxious? The defense mechanisms we use to protect our emotional selves block the parts of us that the world most needs. Now, I’m no psychologist but I am a student of life and I’ve spent over half my life in a quest to better understand myself. To live an authentic life, one must process their emotional experience – whether the emotions we are experiencing at any given time are comfortable or uncomfortable.

Being compassionate in a situation gives you freedom, it gives you power, it brings you closer to your spirituality. It shifts the focus from ourselves to another. When we are extending compassion, we are not wallowing in despair, or stewing in our anger, or hiding behind a mask. We are naked before the world sharing the best of what we have to offer. Whether it be a small gesture or a grand act.

The authenticity comes from the initial desire and the commitment it breeds. No need to get consumed by each interaction, questioning if this is where compassion is needed. Trust your instinct. Allow compassion to flow.