Living YOUR life

Do you know people who live their lives based on what other people do?.. Maybe we are all like that at some stage, but it is good to be aware of it, and to realign yourself when you feel that you are slipping into that trap.

I am referring to people who rarely talk about themselves or their own achievements but those of others. Don’t get me wrong, those who over promote themselves and their achievements are a whole different topic. I think it is great to catch up with friends and get up to date with how their loved ones are doing BUT…… do we really want the whole conversation to be about someone else?... I think not…. Proud parents who have nothing else to talk about except for their child’s achievements, women who are quick to weave their husbands career type into the conversation with constant reference to it, and in the opposite, unhappily married people who can’t get enough stories of the exploits of singles, people who recite the opinions of others.

I think that service to others is a wonderful and necessary part of life, but it is only part.. the rest is for our own lives. Live your life, have your own experiences, your own stories, your own achievements, your own perspective, your own opinions…… Give others an equal share of the conversation. Be proud of what your loved ones do but don’t live your life through theirs.

Be unique, be fearless, be inspirational, be aware, BE YOU !!!!!!!!!

Always be a first-rate version of yourself,

instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland

Love and Gratitude,
Lisa xxxx

Compassion

I was witness a very valuable experience the other day. ‘The true meaning of compassion and how some people have no idea what it is or how to apply it’. As with all of my entries here, I hope just to give you enough to inspire you to consider the subject more deeply and with your own perspective. Our truth becomes what we connect with in our hearts.


Wikipedia describes Compassion in this way,

Compassion (from Latin: "co-suffering") is a virtue —one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy (for the suffering of others) are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnectedness and humanism —foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and person hood.


There is an aspect of compassion which regards a quantitative dimension, such that individuals compassion is often given a property of "depth," "vigour," or "passion." More vigorous than empathy, the feeling commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another's suffering.

So in my words, when you understand and have empathetic feelings for a particular situation, that you may not be able to directly change, however you still offer love, understanding and support, this energy will in develop into helping the situation.

From the words of The Buddha,

Compassion is that which makes the heart of the good move at the pain of others. It crushes and destroys the pain of others; thus, it is called compassion. It is called compassion because it shelters and embraces the distressed.

One of the clearest examples of compassion is Mother Theresa. She cared for the poor and sick in the leper colonies in Calcutta. She spent her life serving the rejects of society and is truly a person of compassion.

Please don’t judge those who are not living life the way you are, understand that others are living the life of their environment. Perspective, life experiences, culture, beliefs, fears, all shape us and determine how we live our lives. It is so tragic that 80% of the world population live in poverty. That is a lot of people to be struggling everyday of their lives, not to mention those who don’t live in poverty yet have their own challenges that make day to day life difficult. Have compassion for everybody, regardless of who they are or where they are. Generate the feeling of love for everybody and do whatever you can to help.

A simple word of praise can lift a heavy heart.

It makes the giver a better person

And gives the receiver hope and faith.

It’s usually reciprocated.

It gives life great purpose.

                                                                                                         P.L.





Love and Gratitude,
Lisa xxx