Photo by Matthew Henry from Burst

Compassion Only Grows in a Certain Kind of Soil

How to make your compassion more potent.

Compassion is something that arises naturally. It doesn’t need to be forced, coaxed, or baited into existence.

By manifesting the energy of compassion, you give yourself the power of healing. But before it can be used properly, it’s important to know where it comes from.

What gives compassion life, and what takes it away

Compassion is rooted in understanding. The deeper you understand the pain within you and others, the more potent the energy of compassion is within you.

But of course, as understanding gives life to compassion, the opposite kills it. The death of it comes with the cold slap of judgment. What grows from the soil of judgment is weeds of blame, guilt, and shame. When handling emotional and spiritual pains, these are the worst things you can offer yourself and others.

Using compassion

I was tested with this while trying to write the draft to this post earlier this morning. I was sitting here staring at the paper, waiting for words to arrive, when I felt this enormous sadness envelop me. It was like a dark cloud formed right over my head for no apparent reason.