Compassion

[YoungDemCA]

I think we all could use more compassion in this day and age.

Don't stop fighting for what you believe in, but don't let the bad shit in the world get to you.

Don't stop providing a voice for the voiceless, but be a voice of empowerment and hope, not of fear and hatred.

Don't stop seeing the world for what it can be, but accept that not everything is in one person's control-far from it.

And for humanity's sake, be compassionate and empathetic. Listen those in your lives who you may not have listened to in the past, for whatever reason. That doesn't mean you have to agree with them, of course, but try to see things from their perspective.

We're all in this together, Democrats, progressives, and liberals. I know we don't always agree, but for the love of everything beautiful....we gotta stick together. When we unite in working together, when we stand up for what we believe in, and when we show the world that we mean what we believe, and live it...well, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

It's up to us.

Sincerely,

A Young Democrat from California

[JaneyVee]

1. +Infinity.

[YoungDemCA]

2. Thanks

Just trying to do something positive.

[Mnemosyne]

3. Really thoughtful post, YoungD. Thank you! nt

[YoungDemCA]

4. You're welcome!

[DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav]

5. Very nice! Thanks for the reminder.

[burrowowl]

6. Very good post!

Cheers yougn'un from an old fart!

[tama]

7. Self-compassion

Test your self-compassion level:
http://www.self-compassion.org/test-your-self-compassion-level.html

Note that this is NOT a personality test. Of course, as we are used to compare ourselves with others, we can start from thinking, that if I score high on self-compassion level, I'm better than others, whoopee, suck that suckers! Or if I score low, I'm just lowly worm with no self-worth and no worth as human being, so I'll go buy more depression pills from Big Pharma or a gun to shoot my self-hating brains out...

We can let go of that thought, and just take the test as discussion with ourselves, about our current state of mind and habitual attitudes. It's just a test of me with myself at this moment. Taking the test hour or day or week later, I can and may answer differently. This is not my personality, just my current state of mind and how I self-reflect at this moment.

Couple more links:

Emory university Cognitive-Based Compassion Training:
http://tibet.emory.edu/research/index.html

Meditations, first that google popped up:
http://www.mindfulselfcompassion.org/meditations_downloads.php

[YoungDemCA]

8. Good find!

Thanks!

[tama]

11. And more

http://www.democraticunderground.com/122815044

And much more. I became aware of this following the discussions of Western scientist with Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhists:
http://www.dalailama.com/webcasts/post/273-mind-and-life-xxvi-mind-brain-and-matter---critical-conversations-between-buddhist-thought-and-science/4306

[cer7711]

9. I Wish I Could Shake Your Hand In Person

Great post, YoungDemCA! You captured the spirit of what an informed, enlightened humanism--and small "d" democratic politics--should be.

And might I add: Bitter invective, snarky oneupmanship and condescending rhetorical cut-downs on behalf of certain hot-button issues aren't half as amusing or persuasive as some seem to think they are. Go easy on your own: there is room for honest disagreement, intelligent debate and heart-felt differences amongst us liberals and leftists. Every minor disagreement and quibble over semantics, political philosophy or policy need not become a knock-down, drag-out ideological fight. That only exhausts and wastes collective energy better channeled toward opposing the hate-mongering, environment-raping, war-profiteering reactionary right.

[YoungDemCA]

10. Thanks!

Regarding humanism-I am personally religious, but I realize that not everyone here is, so I tried to make my message as broad and inclusive as possible.

We will stick together, friends!

[cer7711]

14. Indeed We Will!

I respect the man or woman who is authentically kind, empathetic, compassionate, fair-minded, intellectually curious, erotically charged, decent and wise.

I am not anti-religious; I am anti- "I'll-force-you-to-profess-to-believe-what-I-want-you-to-believe". I loathe all authoritarian doctrine and dogma, dishonest speech and cant--whether it comes from religious or irreligious forces.

We need more like you, in the movement and the world!

[retrogal]

12. Very well said!

Thank you for your post.

[wandy]

13. Good on you. I think you have it figured out.....

From time to time you may find it difficult to hold to those beliefs. Then and again, when you become an OldDem, you just might find that it was worth the effort.

[YoungDemCA]

16. Thank you!

Yeah, it ain't always easy. That's why regular reminders of where we stand are so important.

[HappyMe]

15. Very well said.

An important reminder.

[OneGrassRoot]

17. You're singing my song

I invite you to check out Wishadoo, join us, and perhaps consider blogging there about how you envision putting compassion into action in practical ways, especially amongst younger people.



Great post. Thank you.




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