Compassion in Action – Part 1

What does it mean to live out our existence as compassionate human beings? Where does compassion start and where does it end, or should even end at all? As we quest for a better global human civilization, these are a couple of the infinite questions we each must contemplate as members of the human species if we want to achieve this end goal. If we are to reach this destination, as a species we need to ensure our day to day actions are guided by a higher purpose. As human beings, we will all have an individualized purpose within the existence we are currently experiencing. As members of the human species, we must understand that we need to operate with a core purpose as a species as well. As the HCRC, we believe that living within a global human civilization that has the best interest in mind for every single member of the species needs to be the shared purpose of the human species.

Whether it is on an individual basis or the entire species as a whole, the only way to truly fulfill one’s purpose is to ensure that their day to day actions align to equal the initial purpose. As forms of life that are existing in a universe that at times can seem to have random and chaotic events unfold, we must realize that we cannot control every situation that we experience through the course of our existence. We do have the ability though to consciously analyze and decide the actions we will take when these situations unfold. This ability will allow us to carve a path that can guide us to our end destination of a better global human civilization. The path towards positively progressing the human species is full of unknowns at best and is tremendously treacherous at worst. Due to the difficulties that we will endure through this journey as the human species, we must be properly guided along the way.

As the HCRC, we believe that utilizing principles as our guide along the journey towards a better global human civilization is our only option to ensure our actions are aligned. The first principle we believe is critical towards guiding us is the principle of compassion. As the HCRC, we know that there is a gap between the thought of being compassionate and achieving the result of a better global human civilization. We intend to analyze how we can mobilize the principle of compassion in an all-inclusive manner to help close this gap. The first step towards mobilizing this all-inclusive compassion is to start with the person that we tend to forget about when we think of traditional compassion, ourselves.

Improving our ability to implement and live in a mindset of compassion can only start when we open our minds towards being more compassionate to ourselves. No one human being can expect to go from never practicing the principle of compassion to a master of the practice with a simple conscientious thought of, “I am going to be more compassionate”. To become a skillful practitioner of all-inclusive compassion, we believe in starting on the other end of the compassion spectrum with the perspective of the least compassionate human beings and rebuilding our perspective of compassion from its least evident forms that currently exist within the human species. When we begin to look at the topic of compassion from the vantage point of the perceivably least compassionate human beings possible, we can probably make at least one generalization that would be valid or expose a hidden sense of compassion within that human being. That generalization is that they would value themselves over any other person. In a situation of this nature, we can surmise that this human being is compassionate to themselves. This means that they can feel and demonstrate compassion, it just means that they have to work to expand the scope of how they utilize compassion. If a human being is measured up to this generalization and disagrees with the span of their current compassion parameters, then this would indicate that they do hold compassion for others. The question then becomes, who and what will they extend their compassion towards?

As human beings, we utilize our principles and allow our principles to guide us based on a set operating manual. We must understand that each human being has an operating manual for each guiding principle that has been set with different parameters based upon personal experiences through the course of one’s existence. To expand those parameters we must first gain awareness of our current parameters that we operate within. Once aware, we can then begin the process of reprograming our mentality on the parameters of that guiding principle. This is why we must all reflect on our parameters of compassion and continue to expand the boundaries of our compassion.

Each individual will have there own set of parameters to which they extend their compassion. Some human being’s compassion parameters seem to be morph based upon the circumstances of another human being’s situation at times as well. Regardless of where any individual human being’s current compassion parameters lie, we must each individually undertake the task of expanding those parameters to reach a level of all-inclusive compassion. As the HCRC, we believe we should all start at the core of our existence, and provide compassion to ourselves. Now equipped with an understanding of how self-compassion begins the process of all-inclusive compassion, we must analyze the concept of self-compassion.

As the HCRC, we define self-compassion as the act of alleviating the potential suffering that one can personally experience in existence. Each human being is presented with almost countless choices each day that can lead to suffering. Suffering can come in many forms though and can occur in different durations of time. Being self-compassionate means mitigating instances of suffering to one’s self whether it be short term or long term suffering. Self-compassion described in this sense can be utilized in many if not all ways possible. If you want to avoid long term health issues you may want to begin making more self-compassionate food and exercise choices. If you feel your career has no long term sustainability, then you may want to be more self-compassionate to the development of personal skills that will allow you to obtain more sustainable work. No matter how it is applied, we can understand that operating with self-compassion is essential to being the best human beings we can be, which in turn will allow us to properly contribute to the building of a better global human civilization.

With all the different ways we can utilize self-compassion we can begin the art of practicing this skill and strengthening our abilities to be self-compassionate. This will allow us to expand our perceptions of the principle of all-inclusive compassion. Join us next Friday as our journey leads us to compassion between humans, where we are now and how our compassion parameters can be expanded amongst our fellow human beings.

Until next time, I am Jeff McCarty and I just want to thank you for your time in reading. Looking forward to seeing you next post around. In the meantime, don’t forget to explore our website and to follow the HCRC on social media. Thanks again.