Even small changes in our actions and perceptions can greatly enhance our spiritual growth. Here are 4 ways to deepen and develop your love for yourself, for others and for the world, to become the person you most want to be:
1. Acceptance
“Nothing brings down walls as surely as acceptance.” (Deepak Chopra)
When we learn to accept ourselves as we are, we can begin to accept others without prejudice. The idea of acceptance starts from within, and can help us grow past viewing one another (and ourselves) in terms of gender, race, religion, and sexuality, realizing that underneath everything else, we are all humans.
2. Compassion
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” (Aesop)
Our personal happiness is directly related to our ability to show love to one another. Every action for another human being strengthens our own spirit, whether or not we realize it at the time.
3. Forgiveness
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” (Gandhi)
Holding on to anger is easy – any one of us can do that. What is much rarer and much nobler is to mindfully break the cycle of resentment, realizing that we too are human, and that we all make similar mistakes.
4. Patience
“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” (A.A. Milne)
As humans we often have a need for immediate control and absolute certainty. But if we can learn to surrender our individual sense of urgency and trust the process, then every dream of who we want to be and what we want to accomplish can become a reality.
One action. One breath. One moment. These are the single steps by which we grow nearer to universal compassion in everything that we do and become.
