Dear Folks,
Each week the top quote is one from those in-the-know expressing this idea: The concept of focusing on your desire in order to attain it is an ancient and primal element of human understanding. People have always realized learning comes from experience. Whatever you pay attention to, you not only acquire expertise in but also absorb the nature of. You are becoming what you emulate.
What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action. — Meister Eckhart (1260?-1327?) Mystic
The combination of qualities we possess – physical, mental, and spiritual – jammed together in a cohesive ball, are the sum of our soul. If this ball is large, it is recognizable and thus considered to be Terrific. We cannot expand our soul without consideration of others. Empathy is crucial.
Peace,
Jim
TERRIFIC
Definition: awesome; excellent; extraordinary; great; magnificent; unusually good; wonderful
EMPATHETIC
Definitions: (1) characterized by insightful understanding; the ability to know how another is feeling; possessing a mutual knowingness arising from sameness of experience; (2) vicariously being aware of, or being sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, or experiences of another without personally participating with the other at the time these feelings, thoughts, or experiences took place; (3) being able to grasp what is happening without the situation being fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; (4) an emotion of sympathetic pity or compassion
Quotes:
Being able to feel the pain of others is a strength. It gives us incentive to avoid causing pain.— Morgan Llywelyn (1937 – ) BARD, The Odyssey of the Irish
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. — Jesus of Nazareth (7 bc-30 ad) The Bible, Matthew 7:12
Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. Relate yourself to every man as if you were in his place. Recompense injury with kindness. — Lao-Tse (6th Century bc) T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien (The Treatise of the Exalted One on Response and Retribution) Taoism
Note: The last two quotes represent the Golden Rule. We cannot adhere to this principal of reciprocity if we do not empathize with our fellows.
Experience:
The Five Stages of Grief
1. Denial and isolation
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
Note: You may not be able to bypass the stages of grief, but you can move through them efficiently if you do not allow yourself to wallow in defeat or sorrow. After living through the difficulty you will be a more mature person, thus better able to empathize with others in similar pain.
Consider the Source
