In my meanderings on the www I came across a post by Danielle LaPorte that came just at the right time and resonated strongly with me and others I have shared it with.
Next time someone's behavior makes my blood boil or just makes me shrink away from them I am going to remember the mantra of Practical Compassion " you just never know".
It's not likely you will ever know why someone behaves as they do but having the mantra stops you immediately jumping into unhelpful thought pathways.
from Danielle's post -
You just never know if
: their spirit was fractured as a child by unspeakable things.
: she is frightened — all the time.
: he resists life itself — all the time.
: they are frail from lack of love.
You never know if
: they’re faking loving the heart-hollowed life they fought so hard to make.
: chemicals are coursing through them in destabilizing ways.
: she hasn’t slept through the night in months and months.
: they’ve experienced a loss that will leave a gaping wound for the rest of this incarnation.
: today is especially hard and they’re doing their best, while they wish for just a little more than what they’ve got.
Suspend judgement as a practice of your faith in something true, common, and bigger than today.
From my own experience this doesn't mean that you have to allow toxic behavior to penetrate your well being but having the compassion for others to suspend crippling judgement can actually strengthen you.
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