Foreword: I do sincerely apologize for the non-Tuesday nature of this post.
When you hear the word “compassion” what comes to mind? Is it helping others? Sharing? Giving hugs? Thinking about how your decisions will affect others, even if they are not directly around you? For Daniel Goleman, psychologist and author of Emotional Intelligence, I believe that compassion is all of that and more.
In his 2007 TED talk, Goleman explores the notion of compassion in a variety of arenas, from helping homeless in our midst to buying clothes from facilities where water is properly disposed of. He presents the case for a more compassionate existence, a life of heightened awareness of others and how we are interacting with them.
After watching his video twice, “compassion” seems to be a great term to encompass a number of movements going on right now, from human rights to sustainability. Watch Goleman’s talk and let me know if you think we need more compassion in our lives. I’m making the decision to be more compassionate each moment and I hope you will join me. As Goleman says, “I’m optimistic.” (Video in full post).
