Can a person be successful without compassion?

It's so easy to be caught up in the pursuit of higher acheivement because we all can imagine our world slightly better than it is. But when we make steps of progress, do we do it at the expense of others?

• Do we view the people in our sphere as subordinates or peers?
• When we drive, do we impede or promote the progress of others? (I chose driving because it helps us see our true default mode, but the question extends to other areas of life.)
• Do we believe people are jerks for no reason?
• Do we see crowds as competition, prey, or opportunities to serve?

These questions are getting to our true essence. If we do not bring the corrective influence of  "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.." then we are living our lives in distinction to others.

Here's the catch!

To truly find our unique distinctions, we must promote the distinctions of others. It's counter-intuitive. The default mode of the world is to focus on ourselves in order to rise up. But the greatest moral rule in the universe says that to rise up, we must have compassion for those around us.

Let's never ignore the needs of those around us who are most deserving, but my hope for you is to discover the real success of offering true help to the person you think least deserving. 

You might discover the "successful" around you are anything but.

Having compassion on your sphere of influence does not detract from your plans for success, it secures them. 

What would happen if compassion set your agenda this week?