Linda Jo Martin

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Compassionate Living in a World of Self-Absorption

July 13, 2012 By Linda Jo Martin 10 Comments

There’s a lot of suffering in our world these days. How can we maintain our compassion when we’re preoccupied with work, or looking for work, and the demands of our own personal lives?

Spring, by Linda Jo Martin. This started as an index card drawing.

“Spring” by Linda Jo Martin

People who are lucky enough to have jobs work hard to stay afloat financially, to maintain their living quarters and lifestyles. They don’t have much time left over for others.

Others are without hope for adequate income and some worry incessantly about money. Stress and anxiety are always with them.

Even if they have time to devote to others, many people find it hard to remember to do that on a regular basis.

We become preoccupied with our personal dramas, and easily forget to address the wounds of others.

And there are plenty of wounds!

We humans are encased in emotions. These emotions are almost visible because they affect a person’s aura and facial expressions – even their posture, and the way they walk and talk.

By careful observation we can learn a lot about what people have gone through in the past, what traumas they experienced, and what pain they’ve felt.

If we knew, or at least sensed and understood the life stories our neighbors carry with them, would we ever be angry with them or hold a grudge?


Most people respond to kindness.

People are like sponges absorbing gentle, compassionate vibes. Human beings crave this as if it is a vital missing nutrient, long-absent from their diets. They are looking for love to fill that hole in their hearts.

Some have constructed walls around their hearts – some quite thick – to keep others out, even people who are friendly and compassionate. You may not be able to get through to them – they are way too cautious now to trust anyone. This happens because of pain in their past.

You won’t be able to relate to everyone because some don’t want the contact…. however the spirit talks while the body walks. Even though the person needing compassion and love has their back turned, you can send them vibrations of love and still have a beneficial effect on their lives.


Tattoos on the Heart - The Power of Boundless Compassion - Gregory Boyle's book of stories about working with young gang members in Los Angeles - a true story of compassion in action.
Gregory Boyle wrote a fascinating
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with young gang members in Los Angeles.
This book is a page turner.
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Mindfulness means – remembering who we are, and knowing through each moment what we’re really here to do during our earthly lives.

We’re not here to amass money.

We’re not here to gain favors.

We’re not here to get attention.

No. Not at all.

We’re here to extend our love and compassion to others. We’re here to learn to do so mindfully, daily.

All the rest may come with time, or it may not. But still, we must focus on our prime objective. Loving others.

Remembrance of love is crucial to our development as human beings – as spirits in human bodies.

What Is Love?

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There’s a lot of confusion in the world about what love is.

Love is real.

It isn’t just a passing feeling or temporary attraction.

Love vibrates from the center of our beings.

Everyone has it.

Some have built walls around their spiritual love. If you are one of them, remove a brick from that wall and peek inside. You will be amazed at what you see!

Love is obscured by the cloud of human distractions.

We’ve all got distractions, such as children, noisy neighbors, demands at work, television sets, and our own non-stop-talk mental processes.

That’s why people meditate.

Compassion, Reflections on the Christian Life
Buy at Amazon

Meditation is about stilling the mind and feeling the love.

It takes a while. If you’re new to the meditation process, be gentle with yourself and be patient. It works.

What you can learn from meditation.

1. You can learn the meaning of true love by feeling it within.
2. You can learn to be calm and balanced, preparing for your work in the chaotic world we live in.
3. You can move beyond your mental activity into a world of bliss.
4. You can learn to appreciate each breath you take.

When we slow down, calm down, meditate, and remember what’s important in life, it often comes to this… we must learn to take care of and nurture ourselves, then offer our gifts to others.

Of the many gifts you could give to another human being, among the greatest are understanding, compassion, and love.
 
 
Linda Jo Martin, Book Lady




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Comments

  1. Kathryn Braithwaite says

    August 13, 2012 at 1:42 am

    I love this for both the content and the way you write.
    I find it helps to keep it in one’s consciousness to read such posts.Thank you

    Reply
    • LindaJoMartin says

      August 29, 2012 at 11:07 am

      Thanks Kathryn… I do tend to get philosophical at times, but try to balance that with down-home stories and some of my fiction.

      Reply
  2. Helen says

    July 21, 2012 at 1:46 pm

    I really do believe that peoples wealth and how they came about their money has a direct effect on how compassionate they are as a person.

    Reply
    • LindaJoMartin says

      August 29, 2012 at 11:07 am

      Yes, that’s a factor. It also has an effect on how well that money is spent!

      Reply
  3. Lori Lynn Smith says

    July 16, 2012 at 10:28 pm

    I totally agree with the comment “People are like sponges absorbing gentle and compassionate vibes” I think people need this as much as water and air!

    Reply
    • Linda Jo Martin says

      July 16, 2012 at 10:40 pm

      Yes, there’s a real need for compassion in this world, and lots of people are willing to give… though many don’t know how to give as well as they’d like to.

      Compassion, like love, is one of those things we get more of when we’ve got it flowing through us rather than having it standing stagnant in a pool within.

      Reply
  4. LindaJoMartin says

    July 15, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    Thanks so much, Bobbi! I am studying compassion for a specific purpose… to be able to write about it. Primarily I’m a writer! Compassion awareness is an issue that’s been asking me to focus on it for quite some time now. That time has come. So far my thoughts are unclear but I’m sure that with time clarity will come.

    Reply
    • Amit Amin says

      July 17, 2012 at 3:28 pm

      Starting next month I’m going to start studying compassion – it is one of the personality traits most correlated with happiness (the others are extroversion, optimism, zest, and gratitude). I agree our prime purpose in life should be to love others, but only for a selfish reason – loving others is the fastest path towards happiness!

      Reply
      • LindaJoMartin says

        August 29, 2012 at 11:06 am

        I love your blog, Amit… happiness is one of the most important things in life. I would like for everyone to be able to achieve that. Your blog can help.

        Reply
  5. Bobbi Emel says

    July 14, 2012 at 4:58 pm

    I can see that you have a very big, loving heart, Linda! Thanks for reminding us about the importance of our softer sides.

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Linda, the Book Lady, and I'm excited about reading. A book is a gift you give yourself. It is so much fun to open that cover and discover what was hidden within. Books share the wisdom of the ages with us. Who wouldn't want that? So I read frequently and encourage reading. If you're a reader, let me know by becoming my friend on GoodReads.


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