A Cycle of Compassion and Kindness By Deven Pravin Shah
Deven is an engineer and a marketer. Deven lives with his family in Orange, California. He grew up in India, and they speak Gujarati at home. Deven says he is grateful for the mindfulness meditations and his ability to reflect. It has opened his awareness to navigate the terrain of thinking patterns and emotions. Deven loves writing, coaching youth in public speaking and communication, cooking, hiking, skiing, and creativity in developing & presenting ideas. https://blog.devenshah.net https://toastmasters-lightning.org
There are ripples from inside that have a soothing, calming effect on me when I give. It can decrease cortisol, a stress hormone, helping me lower my blood pressure and loosen the grip of worries/anxieties/tension. Doing nice things for others boosts serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of satisfaction and well-being. Altruism also releases endorphins, giving us a “helper’s high.” From Carl Safina’s Beyond Words, I learned that species in our genetic lineage cultivated empathy millions of years ago: it helped them survive in the wild. Being sensitive to how others might be feeling or going through is hardwired in us even before we evolved to be humans. I think science and religion are converging and pointing in the same direction when they show virtues in compassion, kindness, and mutual care. It is part of our DNA: it unlocks healing, soothing, nurture, relaxation, and nourishment from inside. Is it any wonder that we see acts of compassion and care are all around us? The family members take care of each other. Friends reach out and are there to help. Communities cultivate support networks to take care of local neighborhoods. There are stories everywhere of individuals making a difference in the lives of local youth using coaching and group activities. Initiatives spring up to rescue animals. I saw a touching narrative on the Instagram of garbage collectors in Turkey picking up books from trash and starting a library for kids. A group of artists and songwriters create an outlet for children fighting cancer to express feelings using music. Read a touching story of individuals transforming corner garbage lots into gardens of creative expression. Doctors serve for free to give a gift of vision to blind people. I could go on forever. The stories about acts of kindness make me feel good, as they are expressions of the genuine and priceless treasure of abundance we carry inside. It isn’t necessarily about what or how much people give, but how simple actions create small, positive ripples in small circles.
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Questions It brings questions for me. If compassion and kindness do us so much good, why do we see/hear news of friction, animosity, hatred, terrorism, legal battles, exploitation, etc.? On a personal level, am I being compassionate and kind? Sometimes, yes – hopefully often. In every moment of my life or all the time, honestly no – even if I may not be trying to hurt or hate someone, my guard could still be up to disconnect myself, or my sensitivity to someone/something may not be the same. What is stopping? I think the modern socioeconomic and political fabric has an idea weaved in that people act only out of selfinterest. Humans fiercely compete and so get busy creating empires to fight and dominate. We (humans) started seeing the ecology of the universe as a set of resources to have or consume, coined a name for it – the environment. Instead of being an integral, harmonious part, we started pillaging and plundering it. Over the past 500+ years, our external conditioning has led us to chase material things. I am part of the chase as well. The scarcity mindset disconnects from the universal abundance around me and inside me. The attachment to material things and fear can be a selfsustaining spiral fueled by – and at the same time fueling – my ego and reactive thinking patterns. Space of Abundance!!?? Can I cultivate a space where I can connect with or be a part of the abundance again? A few ideas emerge for me while trying to be aware of my thinking patterns and exploring answers. ONE: Can I lose myself at least some of the time doing something that I enjoy?
