“Self-absorption in all its forms kills empathy, let alone compassion. When we focus on ourselves, our world contracts as our problems and preoccupations loom large.
But when we focus on others, our world expands.
Our own problems drift to the periphery of the mind and so seem smaller, and we increase our capacity for connection – or compassionate action.”
~ Daniel Goleman from Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships
This is big.
For our society and the world.
For every adolescent about to reach adulthood.
For every man and woman asking “What’s in it for me?”
There cannot be peace in the world as long as we remain self absorbed and competing against one another.
The answer lies within each and every one of us.
Now is the time to feed into the greater good of humanity and connect with empathy to our fellow human beings.
You can start now by focusing on understanding others and expanding your world. Be curious rather than judge those who don’t fit in to your way of thinking. Embrace a new perspective.
We are all imperfect.
We all have beliefs, values and feelings. We all have needs and want to be loved, belong and be happy.
We cannot focus on our own happiness, without being concerned about the happiness of others.
After all, everything is connected.
Everything IS connected – great message, Val.
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I feel the convection even more! Thank you Dan 🙏
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“Be curious rather than judge those who don’t fit in to your way of thinking.” ~> OK, I’ll be curious about Trump and try not to judge him.
After all, like me, he just wants to be happy. 😉
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He did come to mind as I wrote this Nancy… May he find an other path to find happiness 😉
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A wonderful post! 🙂 I completely agree!
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Thanks so much 💛
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We cannot focus on our own happiness, without being concerned about the happiness of others. BOOM! One of your best posts ever Val – love this! ❤
Diana xo
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WOW! Thanks Diana. I really felt this one as I wrote it. xo
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I really felt it as I read it!
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Another excellent piece from yourself Val.. Yes I know I am far far from perfect..
May we all expand outwards and embrace the imperfections of others as we reach out to hold hands with broken hearts as we learn to all heal together..
Beautiful post.. Love and Blessings ..
Sue ❤
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Thanks so much Sue. There is so much suffering and a need for healing right now, rather than more anger and violence. I can’t watch the news here in the US….love and blessings to you my friend 💕💛❤️
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Me neither dear Val, its so rammed packed with negatives and violence.. This is what is the making the world ill.. It infects us, divides us, and controls us.. Which is why we need to step out of this circle of entrapment. .. Always do I love your wisdom.. Sending love and healing, and always my heart.. xxx ❤
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Thank you Sue for always connecting from your heart 💛
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🙂 ❤
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Loved this Val. Your message has been coming at me from many points including :
If we keep our own light selfishly hidden, it will only provide a limited amount of illumination. But when we share our light with others, we do not diminish our own light. Rather, we increase the amount of light available to all.
~Master Sheng-Yen
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Love that David! Shine on 🎈
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As I read this I couldn’t help but think of the rescue worker in Aleppo who was overcome with emotion after rescuing that newborn baby. How can we remain self-absorbed when we know others are suffering like this. Everything is connected. ❤
https://meinthemiddlewrites.com/
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Good point Mary Lou, although I also believe that most folks are self absorbed, in order to avoid feeling the pain. Escaping painful feelings is what keeps us separated and feeling disconnected. 💛
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Great post, Val! When people pay more attention to their iPhone than to others around them, there’s a big problem.
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As I sit here in the airport, with everyone attached to their devices …. I agree … And then I realize I am also attached to mine! We all need reminders 💛
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aww, to have been born
into a collective thinking society,
as i’ve experienced in asia & europe.
may these sentiments help
reprogram societies
of rugged individualists 🙂
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You make a good point David. Yet those collective societies still have a “them vs us” mentality. It is something that transcends society that we must embrace for the future 💛
I hope the internet can be vehicle for the light to travel far and wide. 🙏
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Lovely post Val 🙂
We really need to do our best to embrace other and this will change our perspective of life too ❤
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Thanks so much Irene for joining me in the wish for all of us 💛
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You are so welcome, Val ❤
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So true Val! I always more connected and loved than when I am expanding towards others. 💚🙏🏻
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Great post, Val. We are all unique and therefore it is absurd to even attempt to compete or compare oneself with another. I love that we are all connected and that “We cannot focus on our own happiness, without being concerned about the happiness of others.” ❤
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Thank you Carol. So glad you enjoyed. It’s an important time for all of us. 💛
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I feel it. Thank you Karen for sharing the oneness and connection 💕
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Thank you Karen for sharing your love and connection 💛
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I’d LOVE to see an end to all the anger and violence – that is the new dawn of my dreams.
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Mine as well Eliza. Mine as well. 💛
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Wonderful post, and very timely as well especially in the USA as the election and many areas of social unrest pop up. “…our world contracts as our problems and preoccupations loom large…” and it seems so easy to get caught up in ourselves, ignoring the more important areas of life: coming together. Great and need action the world needs.
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Thank you for sharing your wisdom Randall. This is an important time for all of us to let go of self absorption. 💛
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“The answer lies within each and every one of us.” And “Be curious rather than judge those who don’t fit into your way of thinking.” Both resonate strongly with me, as you know. Thank you for continuing to spread this important message.
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Thank you Janet for adding your voice to this message 💕
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So true. We need to keep seeing more of this in our selfie generation. Well said.
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Thanks Marlene. There is much cultural pressure to be selfish … It’s good to keep reminding ourselves of an other reality 💛
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“We are all connected”. Simple truth.
Any divisions are our own creation.
There is only ONE EARTH.
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Beautifully said Eddie 🙏
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This is really big, Val! Loved the reminder ❤
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Thanks so much Helen! 💕
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This is a terrific reminder as we head into the election season. Thank you!
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So true Ann. 💛
Let us not lose perspective and succumb to the hype and manipulation targeted at our self absorption!
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Wow … really connected with this post …and it’s similar to my post on empathy
https://gentleponderingminds.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/empathy-a-take-on-our-world-as-it-stands/
.. tho I’m just starting
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Thank you C. I do like your post 💛
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Exactly this. Just beautiful.
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Thank you pp 💕
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