Nurture compassion for yourself and others from "summary" of You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh

When we look deeply into ourselves, we may notice that there is a lack of compassion. We may be quick to judge ourselves for our mistakes, to criticize ourselves harshly for our shortcomings. But this lack of compassion for ourselves can only lead to suffering. If we cannot be kind and understanding to ourselves, how can we expect to be kind and understanding to others?Compassion is not something that we can force ourselves to feel. It is something that must be nurtured, like a seed that is planted in the soil. We must water it, give it sunlight, and allow it to grow. When we nurture compassion for ourselves, we are better able to nurture compassion for others as well. It is like the oxygen mask on an airplane - we must put it on ourselves first before we can help others. When we are able to cultivate compassion for ourselves, we are better able to see the humanity in others. We are able to see that they, too, are struggling, that they, too, are suffering. And when we can see this, we are more likely to respond with kindness and understanding. We are more likely to offer a helping hand, a listening ear, a supportive shoulder. Compassion is not just a feeling - it is an action. It is a way of being in the world, of relating to ourselves and to others. It is a way of seeing the interconnectedness of all beings, of recognizing that our happiness and suffering are bound up with the happiness and suffering of others. When we nurture compassion for ourselves and others, we are helping to create a more peaceful and loving world. So let us water the seeds of compassion within ourselves. Let us be gentle with ourselves, kind with ourselves, forgiving with ourselves. And in doing so, let us also be gentle, kind, and forgiving with others. Let us nurture compassion in our hearts, so that it may blossom and spread its fragrance throughout the world.