Compassion and Choices
"How To Choose Wisely..."

We reviewed an angry scene in the meaning of compassion and choices are now facing us. Your happy whistling came to an end, and together you and your spouse/co-worker are interacting in a positive feedback cycle of anger.

Or in plain English, you guys are yelling at each other!

So which choices do you have?

You could decide to try to see the situation from the other person's perspective, break the stressful feedback cycle, and create a peaceful environment. At least within yourself. That's where it starts.

So now you calm down. But the other person still continues to shout and scream. How do you apply compassion to the choices you're now facing?

There are two main choices:

• You can address the person's angry response and deal directly with the emotion. Take your focus off the issue and ask, "Why are you so upset? Please calm down so we can discuss this in a proper manner."

Or, if this is not possible (the person is out of control), you may choose the remaining option:

• Completely remove yourself from the situation until the negative emotion decreases. Fight or flight - anger or fear - producing stress, takes up a lot of energy and tends to burn out within minutes unless it's continuously fueled.

Main thing...

Compassion requires smart, decisive action. You sympathetically break the cycle of stress because you are aware of the interconnectedness between people and their social environments, and you are aware of the interconnectedness between your own mind/brain and body.

Stress is very unhealthy...

So you are showing yourself (and others) - love. Compassion and the choices you make are always, always guided by firm and fearless love. You act on behalf of many rather than one. It is the most powerful motivator when used properly.

Now let us complicate things and investigate the full power of compassion.

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