2 Rules for Developing Compassion.

2 very important things everyone needs to understand on this journey, in order to develop true compassion and unconditional love (for yourself and others).

1 - It is IMPOSSIBLE to truly love yourself while being cruel to others.

The 2 are incompatible. We are empathic at our cores, and the only way in which you can be cruel and hurtful to others is by ignoring the pain that exists within yourself that you are in fact projecting onto the other person.

Point being, anyone who is being cruel (or even just disrespectful) to others is necessarily in pain within themselves that they either can't see or acknowledge, or don't have the know-how or strength to confront or release.

2 - It makes no sense to be angry at someone for being in pain.

Let go of the judgment against those who are being cruel. Because they are in pain.

Focus on how they trigger you and deal with that. And then develop as much compassion for their pain as possible, while at the same time making sure that you are keeping healthy boundaries.

Compassion for others does NOT mean that you allow them to take out their pain on you. It just means that you let go of your judgment, blame, and anger towards them.

See them as a parent would see their child.