Einstein inspires these thoughts and actions about “widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures”:

1. In addition to doing daily activities and tasks, we can grow more by intentionally planning and preparing for expanding our capacities.

How would you like to change in the way you think or behave toward others?

What characteristic is holding you back?

Which one is good that could be even better if you focused on making it a strength?

Have you listed your important goals and resolutions to inspire your improvement?

You can add to your goals for the 7 Areas of Life at least one for the Personal Area to think of a way you would like to improve in the way you think or act and the Social Area to identify a way you could improve relationships. Visualize your better or best-self. Write a goal or result. List an action that could succeed. Ask and answer why this is important to you and others (what will happen if you take action and what will likely happen if you don’t?). You likely need all of these to focus on the end result and to keep you moving instead of stay on the path not leading you to your desired journey.

Consider the man who admitted he had “anger issues.” Three marriages. Three divorces. Distant relationships with ex-wives, the new one, even children. Improving this characteristic is more than daily living and wish lists. It almost always requires intentional action inspired by a big reason to choose a better self.

Let us remember, If nothing changes, nothing changes.

He had a choice to make: stay in a comfort zone of beliefs and acceptance, I am a “hot head though after the blow up I am over it and don’t mean to hurt anyone…they should know that and get over it.” Keep telling yourself that and keep getting the same results. Or, widen your “circle of compassion” and your capacities to think and behave differently. Is it worth 1% of your time, about 10-15 minutes daily to improve your plans, actions, and results?

2.  “Compassion to all living creatures” means treating dogs, cats, horses, and most others with respect and care. Enlightened people treat living creatures about the same–humans and animals deserve respect for their purposes. Those who hurt animals when no one is looking or for entertainment likely will hurt or cheat people when no one is looking. Just because what is “legal” has not caught up with what is “ethical” is not justification for people to behave badly.

Have you ever realized you were doing something you thought was okay because “everybody was doing it” and decided it was not okay? I have, too. When bad things are done to other people or to animals, sometimes it is done by people with bad intentions though some people of good intent do bad things because they have not been taught well or they have not yet figured out “right” on their own. Many children learn right and wrong as they mature though too many older adults still suffer–and cause suffering–because they are too lazy or too overwhelmed to include improvement in their daily lives.

A few minutes of daily reflection on plans, actions, and results can save us and others from excessive heartaches as well as increase joys and successes.

May you Plan and Lead your Life, David