I was meditating this morning, and the meditation guide first spoke about constant compassion – where we want to always offer kindness and compassion without any expectation of others. This makes sense to me (see my giving entry) as it is what I try for. I was thinking further and reflected on this with respect to my life, experiences, and others. Specifically, I was thinking about when we are faced with difficult situations that cause emotional hardship or pain. It seems after facing hardship we find a fork in the road. We can choose to take the path of love, or we can choose the path of anger. For myself I have taken the path of love – but what does that mean? To me it means being open, accepting, non-judgmental, and offering kindness. What this translates to (for me) is when I experience new things, meet new people (happy people), I respond so positively to it. I greet people and new things with joy and enthusiasm. I am like an innocent and naïve child – full of trust, hope, and optimism. I think part of the reason I am this way is because I appreciate it so much – my past was painful, and I am grateful to be around happiness. I value the kindness and authenticity from others, and I am grateful and willing to experience new things. Also, my free-spirited side is more open because I am always thinking to myself – nothing can be worse than the pain I already went through! Of course, my radar always must be checking for someone that is not healthy to be around. For example, going into a new place full of people, I will know exactly who to avoid. I need to keep that balance to protect myself. The path of anger is taken when someone is stuck, and they are suffering so much that they cause others to suffer by their actions. I understand this can happen (and really to anyone). So, it is something to be aware of – to be mindful of while we are going through any kind of struggle. We are responsible for how we express our emotions, and how our actions affect others.
