People can only evoke reactions in us if we choose to let them. By reflecting and going back in time to when you first remember a similar word, situation, person, or incident, you can work through the original incident by replacing those memories with what should have been to make you feel okay. By replacing negative messages with positive ones, we overcome negative programming and become more in harmony with our relationships and our environment. As you begin to understand yourself more and more, you will respond positively to more and more situations and relationships with understanding and compassion.

Caring and compassion for others as well as serving others is important in our life. After reading “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen, Jacob experiences the disappointment of his children not showing up for an important event in his life. He also experiences the sadness when he tries to tell his out of date stories and experiences to both his family and others. If you have experienced the last few years of an elderly parent or grandparent, their stories and life lessons are important to their feeling valued. Even in the workplace, it is imperative to listen to the stories and life lessons of your employees so that they feel valued and respected. Appreciating and listening to the stories and life lessons of others demonstrates caring and compassion.