When I speak on the attributes of leadership, I remind the audience that the same qualities practiced by effective leaders allows you to possess a life well lived. It permits us to treat ourselves as deserving. We come upon this positive perspective when we see our lives as meaningful. How do we know if our life has meaning? When we are satisfied that we are pursuing the primary purpose for which we were placed on this planet – to help one another.
I believe and so I wrote, “As a species we are cosmic engines of transformation.” Humanity at Work: Encouraging Spirit, Achievement and Trust to Flourish in the Workplace (Chapel Hill Press 2008) How do we transform the world? Compassion is a good place to start. The Dali Lama wrote that “Compassion changes the tone of our lives.” Isn’t that wonderful! Of course compassion is a trait, it must be learned, practiced, taught. Are we more often than not compassionate beings? Look at the world wide response to the terrible earthquake in Japan. The earthquake in Japan and its consequences bring into stark relief the frailty of our existence, but compassion tears away at the film that sometimes coats over our awareness as to what really matters.
Compassion allows us to recalibrate reality, to what is truly important and meaningful in our lives. In that respect, it is a remarkable gift.
santocosta 
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Thanks for the comment and following my blog. You might enjoy my book, as well, Sandy