Want to feel better about yourself? Do something for someone else.

 

Can we, mankind, afford to be complacent?
What happens when we become complacent? Bad stuff happens.

" All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing", said Edmund Burke.

Complacency, indifference, and apathy, have one thing in common; a lack of concern.

Has collectivism become a victim of our rampant individualism?

Are we no longer willing to subjugate our individualism for a "higher cause"?

Someone posed: "How much do you care about the suffering of others when you are having a serious toothache?"

Perhaps one may ask: How much do you care about the suffering of others when you don't have a toothache?

Indifference, apathy, and complacency, may I suggest, do not advertise their arrival as they possess our hearts and minds, we only discover they "own" us when we no longer care about things, and or people, that necessitates a whole hearted involvement and commitment.

"He's always got some problem or another, I just haven't got any more time for it."

"She's always broke, so I just don't invite her out anymore... I mean, why should I go to those cheaper restaurants just because she is always broke?"

"Hey, sorry to reschedule again, but something has come up...."

"Hey, change the channel, I've seen enough suffering for today."

There is a lot of suffering, suffering is part of the human condition so it seems, but I can't help but wonder what will happen if we become so self-focused that we no longer have time for empathy and compassion.

Perhaps some folks have a penchant for trouble, for mismanagement of money, for behaving thoughtlessly, for taking too many risks, for acting first and thinking after, but does that necessarily mean they are not deserving of compassion or concern?

All over the planet there are people dealing with major traumatic situations which are none of their own doing; they just happened to be born there; what does it say about us (fortunate enough to not be living in a war torn/drought stricken/chaotic environment) if we become indifferent to their plight just because we can't be bothered? (or have a toothache :)

"Hey, I am bothered, I just don't know what to do," we may say.

Then perhaps find out. Talk to others who care, search the net, like it is said: "If you seek, you will find".

Altruism (the principle or practise of concern for the welfare of others) is a pro-social behaviour which although it is other-oriented still makes us feel good about our selves. (win/win in my book!)

The more we practise understanding and "walking in someone else's shoes" the more capable we become of being compassionate, and the more compassionate we are, the less the likelihood of us being either complacent or indifferent to others.

 

“You or I might think that at least one would show courage and put up a fight. But neither you nor I have suffered as they, and even we have born witness in silence to lesser ills under less dire threat. Yet, in the face of evil, to sit silent is an even greater evil. Complacency is ever the enabler of darkest deeds.”   (Robert Fanney)