From Struggle to Strength

Compassion comes from two Latin phrases: com -with and pati-suffering or enduring.

Often we think of compassion as being attuned to suffering (which it is), but it’s more than that.  The key to compassion is to move from witnessing struggle to wishing for and acting to create an end to the struggle. Through compassion, we can comfort (com-with, fort-strength) others and ourselves.

Pati also gives us the word patience. It’s the added understanding that although we cannot change someone’s current circumstance, we can bring the gift of our abiding presence to the situation.  

There has been so much struggle to witness over the past week. Our hearts are open with care for people in Florida, in Iran, in the Ukraine, in Russia, in Pakistan, in Thailand….

When it feels overwhelming, it can be helpful to combine a Compassion practice with Mountain Meditation, creating a sense of “Strong back, soft front.” You can find a version of that meditation here in our library of guided meditations that are available to anyone, anytime. It’s just 13-minutes long, but offers enduring support. It begins by helping us connect with and tap into the majestic strength that each of us has within us. Sometimes we forget it’s there or lose the felt sense of it. When we reconnect with our own inner strength, we can trust in our ability to face struggle, which is the only way to move through it and create the conditions for an end to suffering.

May we all rest in a sense of strength and warm-heartedness,

Your CMP Family