Compassionate Mind

"In Buddhist teaching, people are urged to be compassionate, that is, to show respect and love to every single living entity.  Since you are a living entity, being compassionate also means having compassion for yourself.  Compassion includes having patience, generosity, tolerance, and forgiveness not only for others but also for our own struggles.  Compassionate behavior also means letting go of envy, spite, critical attitudes, and the desire for revenge.  These are integral aspects of living in a way that does no harm -- to others or to yourself.  They are fundamental Buddhist principles for living well.

Buddha emphasized that without compassion for yourself, it's impossible to display true kindness and sympathy for others.  According to this philosophy, you yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.  No matter who you are, you need and have the right to be treated well.  You cannot treat yourself well if you are not gentle and compassionate with yourself about your own issues."

From the book  "eating mindfully" by Susan Albers, psy.d.

May you be aware of your connection to compassion today.