What It Means To Be Human: Compassion
As the month of mental health awareness comes to a close, I would like for us to consider the mental health of those around us. We are surrounded by people with minds wired in different ways. We interact with them both physically (face-to-face) or virtually. The words we utter to them, and about them, have a massive effect on their state of mind. This is why today; I’d like for us to look into the human aspect of compassion.
When I thought about compassion, the first phrase that came to mind was the title of a certain song, “Try A Little Tenderness”. Originally performed by Val Rosing, I like Otis Redding’s version better. The song, however, talks about applying tenderness towards expressing love for a woman. It’s an amazing classic song, I’d recommend a listen.
How we relate with the people around us has an undeniable effect on their state of mind. Regardless of how close we are to others; the words we utter can build or crush another’s spirit. Words are not just words, they are like the wind that will either fan a fire or extinguish a flame, otherwise, there would be no need for words of encouragement. Before you say anything to anyone, ask yourself why what sense you want to ignite in a person. If it is something you wouldn’t want to be said to you, keep it in your mind.
So, why the emphasis on displaying compassion? We have different mental strengths, what your mind can stand, another person’s mind might buckle under that pressure. We are built differently. You can tell by how we all react differently to similar stimuli. The basis for these reactions hinges on the environment that conditioned that mind. We tend to create patterns of reaction based on the experiences we face. This is where traumas come from. One who has been exposed to violent words as a result of their errors will always expect that from every other person. It’s a scar that never heals, the pain might stop, but it will always be there, a reminder of where one comes from.
We all have a duty to our fellow man, a duty of care. We cannot walk the earth with intentions only set to self-gratification. If you think about it, none of us are where we are as a result of our efforts. Someone somewhere, at some point, had to selflessly extend their hand to us. They had nothing to gain from it. Imagine if we all had that much consideration for those around us. We are a global community, how about we live like it. The self-absorption we see around us had a starting point, people believed it was them against the world. That’s funny, because, if you perceive that notion attentively, you’ll find it puts us in a constant war with people we should be locking hands with. People we should be building the world with.
“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
-Albert Schweitzer-
One act that positively serves two spirits; an act of kindness. Acts of kindness come in many different forms; a smile, a greeting, a compliment, a polite tone, holding a door, giving way, sharing a joke, actively listening, sharing food, etc. If you look around you, you will be able to notice people who need all these and more. Our communities are plagued with elements of selfishness that have created a hostile world for many people. It’s easy for us to only look at prominent people and call them out on their flaws, forgetting that, even at our level, we have sown seeds of unkindness. Each one of us has failed the world around us.
We all have one responsibility; service. We get it wrong when we think this is service to ourselves, we get it wrong when we think this is service towards our loved ones, we get it wrong when we think this is service only to our clients/customers. Albert Schweitzer, an Alsatian Polymath, puts it more concisely, “the purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” From this, we can all have a moment of introspection; how are our daily activities serving humanity? From this point, we can begin to see how our activities affect those around us.
Leaving the work of fixing up our communities should not be left to a few individuals. It’s a requirement for each one of us to fix up the world in the corner we find ourselves in. From the world enclosed by the walls of our home, we can notice the people who need our compassion. When we step out into the streets we walk in or drive through every day, we will see the people who could use our compassion. From the terraces, we have passively participated in the erosion of our community’s spirit; a spirit that is necessary for the nurturing of productive generations to come after us.
If I was to pose a question, even to myself, how has the world treated you? Flashbacks of both good and bad scenarios play in the mind. Our world is not a bad place; it is the people that have created this environment that always seems to suck out life from everyone. We all have a major part to play in driving away that spirit-breaking element. We cannot leave it to chance; we cannot leave it to our leaders.
If we unite in trying a little tenderness towards the people around us, the energy we exert will always have a way of circling back to us, and to our loved ones too. If the circle of life starts with an act of kindness, it will end with an act of kindness. Be kind in your words and your actions, regardless of who is on the receiving end, it is our duty. With this, we will ignite a flame that will illuminate our world.
