Commemorating The Good Work Of Others
Meditation and Action Need To Be Balanced
Those “who think that the world will take care of itself if only they sit well on their cushions are as lopsided as those who are so obsessed with practical actions to save the environment that they have no time for inner work” (George, 1995, p. 113). I would add that those who only seek to appreciate their attractions in nature and who do not take practical actions on behalf of nature are likewise lopsided.
Commemorate the good works of others.
We sometimes hear that our suffering is due to our clinging on to our status or to our reputation. We are told that meditation is a way to free ourselves from such attachments.
We all know that meditation is a good way to do nothing and still be respectable. Meditation cushions are always dirty because the meditators, especially those who have become free of attachments, no longer have the parts they need for vacuum cleaning.
Inner work, often done on meditation cushions, is the first step but it cannot be the last.
Recognizing someone else's good qualities or work can be a powerful tool for self-improvement and addressing imbalances in oneself or in relationships with others.
Here's how to stay inspired and motivated:
Acknowledging and appreciating others' positive qualities can prompt self-reflection. By reflecting upon others' strengths and shortcomings, self-awareness increases.
Witnessing someone else's success can inspire you to set loftier goals for yourself, fostering both personal and professional development.
Recognizing positive qualities in others allows you to identify behaviors and traits you admire and try incorporating these into your own life.
Acknowledging someone's skills or achievements may inspire you to acquire similar capabilities or enhance existing ones—ultimately leading to personal development.
Acknowledging and appreciating others' good qualities is an effective way to strengthen relationships. It creates a positive atmosphere, builds connections between individuals and fosters mutual support and cohesion between communities.
When relationships become imbalanced, acknowledging and appreciating each person's contributions can create more balanced interactions and foster more harmonious relations.
Recognizing others' strengths can promote empathy by helping you understand different perspectives and experiences, leading to more compassionate interactions.
Witnessing others overcome challenges can help change your mindset so you see challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles.
Remarking on others' resilience and perseverance can inspire you to approach setbacks with an optimistic, resilient mindset.
Recognizing others' accomplishments rather than feeling jealous can actually promote positive comparison, and help promote feelings of motivation rather than envy. Recognizing others' success doesn't diminish your own value but can instead serve as motivation to achieve more yourself.
Recognizing others' strengths and achievements can create an open, supportive communication environment, encouraging constructive feedback and sharing of ideas.
Recognizing and appreciating others' qualities or work can provide valuable insights, motivation and inspiration to aid personal and interpersonal development.
Here’s one way to act positively, even if it is not you that is doing the acting.
