My journey continues to be one of aligning and creating with the values of compassion, kindness, honesty, integrity, and love. Seeing the best in others and holding space for those who persistently pour out their unresolved issues into our world seem to be where I have landed lately. Listening to others and myself with deep compassion continues to strengthen the core of who I am.

Life can be harrowing, heartbreaking, hilarious, and heart-warming. I believe others will feel safe with us when they know we can hear their whole story, all of it, unedited by their pretend smiles or our ignorant judgments. You don’t know what somebody else has lived until you walk around inside their shoes and see through their eyes and feel through their hearts. Some people’s stories contain painful and shocking content that may be difficult to hear or comprehend. Pain wasn’t designed to be pretty or intelligent. We cannot see in others what we don’t own inside of ourselves. How we transform and rise strong and humble from the difficult challenges becomes where the rubber meets the road.

Making peace and finding dynamic equanimity with the past allows us to begin to stand on a strong foundation of genuine dignity and wholeheartedness. Weaving together the bruised places with a strong core of unshakeable faith and confidence, we can step up and step out into an expanded life. We’ll dare to wake up to a life filled with the messy, which we are more equipped to respond to and the beautiful, which we can savor and thoroughly enjoy. The illusions or expectations at the extremes of only dancing with pure positivity or throwing a pity party in the hole of darkness can come to an end.

Knowing that many of us are connected to the energy of love continues to empower life and that passionate commitment to be of service to others. To align our personalities, gifts, skills, and talents with a vision to help people can get us out of bed in the morning with an open heart, vitality, and clarity. We must be willing to connect with the whole of ourselves, breathe it in and breathe it out.

Cultivating an inner silent witness or inner “fly on the wall” can open doors to a richer experience of equanimity, courage, and a fuller presence with life. A deep peace and unshakeable faith can steer our next inspired actions.

What inspires you to cultivate compassion for others and yourself? What does having compassion mean to you?