Words from my book Seize the Day: A Mindful Guide to Fuller Living that challenge us to consider others as well as ourselves.
What does love look like?
It has the hands to help others.
It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.
It has eyes to see misery and want.
It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.
That is what love looks like.
Saint Augustine
There is a magnet in your heart
that will attract true friends.
That magnet is unselfishness,
thinking of others first;
when you learn to live for others,
they will live for you.
Paramahansa Yogananda
Each of you should focus not on your own interests,
but instead of the wellbeing of others.
Philippians 2:4
Think not of yourself today, but of others.
We are all good at looking after number one,
much though we may tell ourselves otherwise.
But ask yourself instead what you can do
to make someone happier today –
to add a little sparkle,
a little joy,
into their life.
How you might bring cheer to the lonely,
comfort to the sick,
reassurance to the troubled,
hope to the depressed,
laughter to the sad,
relief to the suffering,
peace to the anxious,
strength to the weak?
Think of the poor and exploited –
is there something you could do for them,
some way to support their cause?
The hungry, homeless and refugees –
can you offer them more than words?
The victims of famine, disaster, war, disease –
are they more to you than nameless statistics?
Don’t just say that you care;
show that you do.
And start, here and now, with those close to you:
your nearest and dearest,
the people you live with, work with, mix with, talk with.
Shed a little light,
spread a little sunshine,
brighten someone’s day.
Don’t just think about it: do it.
They’ll be the better for it
and so also will you.
.