What determines how compassionate we are?
What determines how compassionate we are? I have just watched a fantastic TED talk from 2007 by Daniel Goleman, a psychologist who researches emotional intelligence. Apparently, our degree of compassion (whether or not we would stop to help a stranger) depends on how absorbed we are in what we are doing, and how much of a hurry we are in. It’s very sad.
He also talks about the possibility of compassionate shopping, which I find a really interesting idea. You can track the manufacturing process of an item at point of purchase to determine whether it was virtuous or not, before deciding whether to buy. I’m going to investigate this a bit more as it really appeals to me.
The first step to developing our compassion is to choose to move out of our self-absorption, and to notice other people. Essentially, I see this as learning to put mindfulness into practice in the real world. Once we do that, we can begin to show more empathy and compassion.
Project 365
I set up this website after deciding that I want to build a more creative life for myself, so I can give up my job and be in control of my own destiny.
I have set myself a goal of publishing an article on my website every day this year, to document my journey from employment to self-employment.
The name I chose was Project 365 because I see this as a year that I have dedicated to learning and self-development, as I countdown to freedom. It started on 1st January 2021, so I have 318 days to go!
Why not check in on a regular basis to see how I am progressing, and what I have discovered?
I have decided to set up a blog, and to document my adventures in life through it.