Compassion is among the greatest of all virtues according to every major religion and spiritual teaching. Stronger than empathy, which causes us to 'feel' the pain of others, compassion compels us to 'act' to relieve the pain.
It is compassion that leads us to donate our time and money to causes that uplift and support those less fortunate than ourselves, and compassion drives us to insist on the undeniable rights of others. We are able to see through their eyes and word, the suffering that only we can help to alleviate through our emotional or physical support.
But compassion is not always just for those outside of us. There may be times when we find ourselves in tremendous physical or emotional pain. Rather than asking for compassion and understanding from others or even ourselves, we dig the wounds even deeper by the judgment, justification and guilt we lay on ourselves. We disrespect ourselves by calling ourselves names and using hurtful words. We treat ourselves in a way we would never consider treating another human being.
We should feel compelled to give ourselves the emotional support we deserve, and stop the abuse. Stop the personal disrespect and begin treating ourselves with the same compassion and consideration we so willingly give others. Until we are able to heal our relationship with ourselves, how can we possibly expect to openly and honestly give to others the compassion and understanding they deserve?
Magnificent women have come to understand the power of compassion. They know that when they have compassion with themselves they are free to give it without judgment or condition to everyone around them."
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