What To Do When You Feel Lonely

A reader writes: Sir, I don't know why I feel lonely always, I can't change this attitude. Please suggest me some tips to come away from this.

My Reply:

My suggestion is for you to think more about helping/comforting other people, and less about yourself and your own troubles.

The best way to cheer yourself
is to try to cheer someone else up.
- Mark Twain

As we work to create light for others,
we naturally light our own way.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

One thing I know: the only ones among you
who will be really happy are those
who will have sought and found how to serve.
- Albert Schweitzer

What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?
- George Eliot

For those who are bored with life,
the path to happiness almost always comes
through service to the less-fortunate.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie


May the world be kind to you, and may your own thoughts be gentle upon yourself.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
 

Signs of a Compassionate Person

I found a great article - 8 Ways To Tell If You're A Truly Compassionate Person - and decided to make a brief summary.

These characteristics are generally associated with a compassionate person...

1. Emphasizing one's similarities to other people, rather than one's differences.

2. Giving a low priority to money.

3. Taking action by volunteering and offering specific help to individuals.

4. Being kind to yourself. Being compassionate begins with self-compassion.

5. Teaching others. Teaching another is the most powerful way to reenforce any idea in oneself.

6. Being in the moment. Compassion requires giving one's full attention to another - without multitasking, or thinking about one's next appointment.

7. Understanding that each person holds their own valid point-of-view.

8. Being grateful for other people.

Homeless Veteran Transformation

You can also view this Homeless Veteran Transformation video on YouTube.

If we have no peace,
it is because we have forgotten
that we belong to each other.
- Mother Teresa

People will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget
how you made them feel.
- Maya Angelou

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need
but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
- 1 John 3:17

How Helping Others Helps You

A reader's question: Dear Jonathan, Can you please explain in simple words what this quote is trying to convey?

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life,
that no man can sincerely try
to help another without helping himself.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

My answer:

If you help other people, your life becomes happier and more fulfilling.

There are three reasons for this:

1. Most immediately, the act of helping another provides a sense of your own value, which directly makes you happier and more fulfilled.

2. Other people will see you as a worthwhile and moral person, and will be more likely to help you get what you want.

3. If you believe in a kind and compassionate God, or in a universal intelligence, or in karma, you know that there is a force that rewards good actions.

As we work to create light for others,
we naturally light our own way.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

See more quotes about service

Kindness and Charity

Kindness and charity are the earthly building blocks that support all the world's religions.

Every Christian knows the story of the Good Samaritan and recognizes that the overarching theme of Jesus' teaching is loving and caring for all people.

You have heard that it was said,
"Love your neighbor and hate your enemy."
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
- Matthew 5:43-44

Charity (Zakat - giving to the needy) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Most chapters of the Quran begin, "In the name of God the Compassionate." Therefore, in Islam, as in other religions, one would best emulate God by being compassionate.

Compassion is a central value - perhaps the central value of Buddhism.

A generous heart, kind speech,
and a life of service and compassion
are the things which renew humanity.
- The Buddha

Compassion is also a central value in Judaism, Hinduism, and the world's other major religions.

Each of the major religions, and also the major philosophical systems of thought, such as the ancient Greek, include expressions of the Golden Rule in some form.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.
- Luke 6:31 (the "Golden Rule")

Does this mean that everyone who claims membership in an organized religion is compassionate and generous? Obviously, it doesn't. From the Crusades to Nazi Germany to 9/11 to some of today's hate-filled political rhetoric, some terrible things have been done in the name of religion.

However, compassion, kindness, and generosity are not dead. For each of the many highly public cases in which cruelty, or just indifference, is committed in the name of religion, there are a hundred kind and generous souls working within their community churches to promote kindness and improve the lives of their neighbors and the lives of strangers around the world.

The worst sin toward our fellow creatures
is not to hate them,
but to be indifferent to them:
that's the essence of inhumanity.
- George Bernard Shaw