Everyone loves heroes who overcome impossible odds. But on top of the list is the one who is also good, kind and gentle, in addition to being skilled. “The earth is enjoyed by heroes — that is the unfailing truth. Be a hero!” said Swami Vivekananda. Each of us can be heroes depending on the paths we choose. We can choose compassion over all else, we can choose that our time of earth is to help others and make the world a better place to live in, because true happiness lies in serving others.
It is thrilling to see that kindness is now being made part of the academic curriculum for children. The reason is that the human brain is hard wired for altruism. Kindness is the fastest way to happiness. It is also the path to success, because it helps kids to focus and improves academic performance. For years, we have been told by researchers that the Emotional Quotient (EQ) is more important than IQ. At the heart of empathy, is compassion. Karuna or compassion is one of the positive navarasas which include:
Sringara or Love
Haasya or Laughter
Vira or Valour
Karuna or Compassion
Adbhuta or Wonder
Shantha or Peace
Compassion helps create a positive mental state and gets the feel-good chemicals to circulate within you. When you show compassion, the gift you receive is happiness. Sharing, helping others and building strong social relationships helps the immune system. The presence of pets in cancer wards has been found to hasten the healing process and reduce the negative response to chemotherapy. Studies have shown that those who have four to six close relationships are healthier than those who have less than four. We need social relationships to promote compassion and mutual empathy. This New Year, choose to be the hero of your own life!
