What does compassion mean to you?

Compassion can mean so many things! It can mean giving compassion for someone you love who has hurt you in divorce, break up, abuse, or betrayal.

On the flip side, it can mean giving compassion to yourself. Letting yourself feel your feelings. Whether you are angry, happy, joyful or hurt.

Compassion can also propel you forward to fight for others rights or escape war. It can also be simply extending a hand.

To sum it up, compassion means to give.

A speaker I heard recently at the Compassion Project event I attended in Bozeman, Montana shared a story.

Her sister told her that she takes too much… That she needed to give more. The speaker took this to heart and started to really change her language patterns.

“Instead of taking a shower, I give myself a shower. Instead of taking a walk, I give myself a walk.”

This shift in verb choice changed her attitude!

She started to think of life as giving! Giving herself, and those around her, these small acts of compassion.

We are all grounded to the same Earth. Thus we all share energy. If we are constantly in an attitude of taking things for ourselves, that energy is reciprocated.

If we give back to the Earth’s energy instead of taking from it, our hearts will be filled with more positivity. There will be more open to receive.

With this thought in mind, I considered how often I proclaim an attitude of “taking”.

I hate to admit it but I take a lot. I take trips, walks, drinks of water, bites of food, pictures, and flights. There is not a lot of room for giving in these scenarios.

I have decided that I will shift my language.

And I extend that invitation to all of you!

Instead of taking a trip, let’s give ourselves a trip.

Instead of taking a drink of water, give yourself a drink of water.

Instead of taking your dog on a walk, give your dog a walk.

Instead of taking a picture, give yourself a memory.

Instead of taking a minute, give a minute.

Instead of taking a flight, give yourself wings!

I hope you accept this gift of compassion and pay it forward 🙂