98. A Little More Compassionate

Every day she tries to be a little more compassionate than the last. She knows it won’t always happen and she accepts this. A misstep today won’t stop her from redoubling her efforts tomorrow. Beyond that, she doesn’t think too much about it. She tries to see what she must do. She pays attention to herself and her environment. She tries to absorb everything she sees, without trying to force herself. Forcing means control and she knows that control consumes energy. She can’t afford to waste energy because she needs it to take action. She tries to act from compassion towards everyone she encounters, herself included. Sometimes there are lapses, but she tries not to hold on to critical judgments. She makes mistakes, just like anyone else. She is sometimes harsh when she could be understanding. She is sometimes hostile when she could be empathetic. She is far from perfect. She certainly does not have all the answers. Still she tries to create as much compassion in the world as she possibly can. She tries to meet needs and reduce suffering, both for herself and the people around her. Sometimes people tell her that she must be tired from being so compassionate all the time, but this doesn’t make sense to her. Compassion is the source of her energy and the source of her joy. There is nothing else she would rather do, nothing else she even could do, really. When she sees terrible suffering she often feels pain, but she doesn’t fight it. She allows it to arise and depart, so that she doesn’t waste any energy. When people tell her about their “compassion fatigue” she just smiles. She tries to help them see more clearly, if she can. She tries to show them the sources of suffering, and how it can be brought to an end. This is quite difficult because everyone is caught up in their own lives, their worries and desires. Still she tries, for she can see it’s important to help others become more aware. It’s the only way they can start to be a little more compassionate, too.