It is  the experience of touching  the pain of others that is the key to change…..compassion is a sign of transformation~Jim Wallis

Touching the pain of others…..such powerful words. How often do we allow the pain of others to enter us, touch us and teach us?

Not often enough.

Compassion is the ability to enter into a world that may be totally different from yours and feel what the others feel. To see life beyond our own skin, language and culture. It is related directly to justice.

Compassion is the slayer of ignorance, apathy and numbness.

It asks and invites us  to step outside our own complacency and see what life beyond our tiny worldview.

 Compassion is a foundation for sharing our aliveness and building a more humane world. ~Martin Lowenthal

It is an ability to step outside your own perspective, limitations and ego, and become  vulnerable, encouraging, critical, and creative with another.

You are me and I am you. I transform the garbage in myself so that you will not have to suffer.~ Thich Nhat Hanh

A mind and heart attuned to compassion supports community identities – local as well as global – and also knows that what we see as the “other” really is a reflection of ourselves.  We take responsibility for the world around us. Judgments and concepts that emphasis differences and shut down communication are simply unacceptable.

 My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.~Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Compassion allows us to make justice real and it allows us to name injustice–call it out for what it is and the way it destroys communities. It is does not   looks down upon another or is limited to helping, giving, pity or pain,  but at its core is about connection and kinship.

The key is turning compassion to action. Bearing witness to suffering. Treating one another justly. Seeking justice.

Bearing. Treating. Seeking.

This action is never timid or weak…. it is strong, forceful and true. Resolute and courageous.

It is literally filled with passion and will transform us.

If you want to build core  nonprofit management skills crucial to your organization’s success you can schedule some 1:1 time with me here or learn about other ways we can work together here. You can also get inspiration, ideas, resources  tools and freebies  by signing up for my  newsletter