I am grateful for these posts on compassion. My concept before coming to Plainfield was far from what I am learning here. It was more on the level of sympathy, definitely a personal sense and do goody definition. I got so that I had to define it more by what it wasn’t so as to break the habits I had developed. I constantly need to check my motives. It was surprising how many negative attitudes I entertained while thinking I was being caring. (such as judgement, control, impatience, self righteousness, fear) I am learning compassion may mean you have to let other people struggle in order for them to learn important lessons. Defining it as unselfed and requiring humility in order for one to be a reflection of God’s love, which is always compassionate, makes so much sense. All this time I was seeing it as a human quality. Without God it got me into lots of trouble and heartache.

• This reply was modified 10 years ago by spencel.