Intentions

As we head into the holidays, setting your intentions might help you get over the frustration of the lines and traffic and congestion. A fairly grounded friend told me about a conference which opened by having the audience members turn to a stranger, hold their eyes for three minutes, and say - out loud - "we have both experienced love, we have both experienced pain, we have both experienced joy, we have both experienced frustration..." As goofy as it sounds, hearing the similarities of the human experience gave my friend a tremendous sense of compassion for her partner - so much so that after the three minutes, they hugged, no longer complete strangers.

Compassion is just one type of intention, one of the many "tinted glasses" through which to view the world. Love, peace, appreciation, gratefulness... How do you want to approach this season, and how will you show it?

Here's an example. When the haggard mom drags her screaming toddler onto the airplane - and we've all been there, rolling our eyes, hoping they don't sit near us - you might use your compassion to realize that the mother is feeling mortified and helpless, knowing how disruptive her family is to the other passengers. Maybe you give the mother a kind smile, or offer some candy to calm the toddler down, or lend her your magazine when the kid falls asleep. If you were that mother, surely kind actions from a stranger like this would be a story you'd remember for years to come.

Quote of the Week: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi