Compassion

 

When we truly rest in awareness, our experience is spacious and intimate, without defenses. With it arises compassion; we feel our heart's natural compassion with life. - Jack Kornfield

One of the most important results of practicing mindfulness is having compassion for ourselves. As we learn to observe and not judge that which is going on in the present moment, we become gentler with ourselves. For example, when anger or jealousy comes up, we can simply notice it. We can feel it in our body but not act on it. We can breathe in and out three times and watch it soften within us and begin to lose its energy. Soon we learn to do the same with all our feelings and emotions, all our memories, and all our imperfections and mistakes in the present moment. As we become more compassionate, forgiving, and loving with ourselves we are experiencing more joy in our lives.

It feels so wonderful to become more and more joyful as my heart softens and becomes filled with love and compassion.