"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." -- The Dalai Lama

Having compassion for others is essential if you are going to attract the things you want in your life.  If you just care about your own needs, you will wind up repelling those people and circumstances you seek.

A compassionate person cares about other people.  Whenever possible, a compassionate person tries to lend a hand to those in need.  The person lacking compassion, views life as a competition where people have to fend for themselves.  Their attitude is that if someone else has problems, that's their problem.

Although each person has to take responsibility for his or her own life, and each of us should be self-reliant, we also have a responsibility to be of service to others.  Compassion is trying to understand someone else's circumstances along with a willingness to reach out to them.  Just feeling sorry is not compassion. 

There are many ways to show compassion.  Some people donate money to organizations that support various causes from fighting poverty to medical research.  This is certainly an effective way to show compassion.  However, being compassionate is much more than financial generosity.

With some awareness, you can show compassion in many ways that will mean a lot to the other person.  Your actions don't have to be elaborate to be significant.  But your actions do have to mean something to the other person.  So you have to look for what is important to someone else, not what is important to you.

Unfortunately, some people feel that they know what is best for others.  They may be well intentioned, but their efforts are viewed as intrusive or disruptive.  Judging another person based on your preferences, experiences, or beliefs, is not compassion.  To be compassionate, you must try to look at the world from the other person's perspective, rather than your own.

Small gestures, at the right time, can mean the world to someone, even though to you the actions may be insignificant.  Making yourself available for someone to talk to, being patient, sharing what you've learned from overcoming similar problems, running an errand, or giving a friend a ride, are just examples of what you can do.

When you show compassion, you help alleviate someone's suffering.  Additionally, you will also feel good.  Being compassionate should never be done with any ulterior motive or expectation of reward or payback.

When you genuinely care about the well being of others, you attract positive people and circumstances into your life.  If you are callous, you will repel the positive and attract the negative.  People who are uncompassionate are typically unhappy, with a miserable personality. 

Having compassion should be a way of life.  It only takes a little extra effort to make everyone's lives brighter.  Those who are generous with their time and emotions are invariably more satisfied than those who are not.

Being compassionate doesn't take anything away from you, rather it provides you with a sense of satisfaction that is hard to get from anything else.  Compassionate people have a limitless, priceless gift that can bring so much joy to others.

It's not difficult to show compassion.  All you have to do is listen to other people and be sensitive to their needs.  You can even bring a smile to a stranger.  Hold a door open.  Let someone in front of you when on line.  Help carry packages.  There is no act too small to be helpful.

NOW AVAILABLE:  "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book.  Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write him c/o this paper.  2008 Bryan Golden

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