Stay Connected to the Values of Compassion – See into life — don’t just look at it!

Consider the possibility that everyone on the planet has the same basic needs — that in fact, having the same needs is part of what makes us human. We all need love, shelter, food, water, connection, fulfillment, and to be valued. In each household, culture, or country, the ways we go about meeting these needs might vary, but not the needs themselves.

Most of us have a need for family, so we make the effort to stay in contact with them and visit them as circumstances permit. In some cultures, people live with their extended families to meet this need. In others, elderly parents move in with their grown children.

We all try to meet our need for family in one way or another. Similarly, we all need shelter, but we may live in houses, tents, huts, or castles. Our strategies differ, but our needs are the same. This is what connects human beings across all cultures and lifestyles. The next time you are in conflict and catch yourself thinking that the other person doesn’t care about the same things you do, consider what needs she may be trying to meet with her actions. You may be surprised to find that both of you choose different strategies to meet the same needs.