Monday Musings: “Compassion Practices”

On the occasional fifth Monday of the month, my Monday Musings offering will take the shape of a globally sustaining practice:  something that benefits all beings.

The Practice is:  Being Compassionate

TEALarbor stories recently joined as a partner with the Charter for Compassion and works locally as well as globally to foster a more loving, friendly, tolerant world. Feeling compassion and behaving compassionately grow from the seed of gratitude. We need to nurture compassion for ourselves in order to augment compassion in the world. In celebration of this shared commitment, here are twenty-five simple ways you and I can be more compassionate today.

Do a random act of kindness.

Refrain from a self-deprecating remark.

Find something in common with a person we dislike.

Take one thing off the to-do list.

Do a kind deed completely anonymously.

Reach out to a loved one.

Pet an animal.

Plant a tree.

Write a thank you note.

Make some beauty (art, music, a meal, gardening).

Sit silently for fifteen minutes.

Pause before saying something urgent.

Pray for somebody.

Pray for our self.

Finish a project.

Join a group.

Dance, sing, write, play an instrument, recite a poem for somebody.

Clean up a mess.

Learn one truth about a culture, faith tradition, or region different from our   

      own.

Smile at a stranger.

Drive within the speed limit.

Let somebody in line behind us go first.

Extend a compliment.

Listen carefully to somebody.

Put away the phone when out in public.

Thank you for joining in this vital endeavor! May you feel loved as you offer love today.

http://charterforcompassion.org/node/7952 and http://charterforcompassion.org

All blog images created & photographed by Jennifer J. Wilhoit unless otherwise noted. Please circulate images with photo credit: "©2014 JenniferJWilhoit/TEALarbor stories. AllRightsReserved."