My road to compassion

This past year was a year of learning for me. I went for things I didn’t even know I wanted and embarked on a journey I hadn’t even considered before. One thing I’m most proud of is I doubled my participation with the In Lak’ Ech movement: I led dance classes, applied for grants and organized events, along with many other activities. (In Lak’ Ech is Mayan for “you are my other me.” Guided by the humanitarian principles of conceptual founder Keith Raniere, In Lak’ Ech is a civil movement in Mexico seeking to transform violence with compassion.)

Still, I struggled to understand how these things were going to end the violence in my country, and how I could possibly make a difference.

One particular day I was feeling confused and angry with myself, and a friend shared something with me that really struck a chord. He told me if I wasn’t being compassionate with myself, I was undermining exactly what In Lak’ Ech is trying to create in the world. This was quite a realization for me.

In that moment, I made a decision: I was going to embark on a mission to build compassion towards myself. I determined I would have compassion when I eat things I know I shouldn’t; be compassionate when I say things I don’t think are positive; feel compassion when I feel rejected; have compassion for myself when I fail; compassion, compassion, compassion! Until this mission, which I begun at NXIVM’s corporate retreat, I had never had such a deep and rich understanding of what In Lak’ Ech truly stands for and how I can really make a difference.

I feel very fortunate to have been introduced to Executive Success Programs, as its programs and tools have brought me a depth of understanding I didn’t know was possible. In particular, Nancy Salzman has taught me so much about what it means to have compassion in the face of adversity. So it seemed fitting that the retreat served as a launching place for my voyage. It was a place where I could relate with people from thirteen different countries: young people, old people, my dearest friends, and people I’ve never even met before; it was the perfect environment for me to challenge my beliefs—beliefs about myself, as well as my beliefs about the rest of humanity. And during those times when I couldn’t immediately access my own compassion, there were people around to support me, to remind me I’m human.

I found most of my challenges quickly turned into opportunities. My relationships with my close friends deepened throughout the week, and the new friendships I made were built on an honest foundation, promising to be long lasting and genuine.

I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to fit the awe and magnificence I experienced that week into a single entry, but I hope I’ve achieved a certain degree of success. At the very least I’d like to impress upon you how close, and loving, and warmly human the experience was for me.

I look forward to evolving this journey in the coming year, and getting to know myself better.