Lately at the WCA we have been discussing compassion a lot. We’ve talked about the beauty, the power, and the joy that compassionate can cause. I agree wholeheartedly with the beautiful points my colleagues have made, but today I would like to talk about a nuance to compassion. Compassion is a feeling of sympathy for others dealing with misfortune. This is one of the most wonderful components to the human psyche. However, it accomplishes nothing if we don’t allow it to change us. It can be nothing but a fleeting thought if we don’t feed it. Compassion is a catalyst for awe-inspiring actions, if we don’t allow it to be drowned out by the distractions of daily life.
In the new year many of us have resolutions. It is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. This year make acting on your feelings of compassion a resolution. Reach out to others, sign up for the volunteer shift, turn your feelings into an accomplishment.
Compassion without action is empty. We must allow compassion to change us. Feel the spark, and light a fire. The world needs more light and warmth. The world needs us to act upon compassion.