This is something that I have taken to heart. I realized quite some time ago that by being compassionate, I myself am a happier person for it. Instead of holding grudges or being judgemental, I try to look at things from other people's perspectives, and that has helped me get over a lot of anger and heartache that would have otherwise eaten me from the inside out. 

For me, compassion is one of the main virtues that we should all live by, but of course, not everyone agrees. What do you all think? Is compassion one of the most important virtues, or is it something that makes us weak (something that I have been accused of on more than one occasion)? 

Which stories did you learn the most from? Which did you find helped your spiritual practice the most? Or any that you just found really interesting? List them below.

Erica 

I really appreciate his straightforward teachings that emphasize the important of financial literacy. In other words, he stresses just how important it is to understand the world of finance and economics. I find this to be very true, because as soon as I started learning more about finance, I saw my own financial problems start to alleviate. John taught me that with a bit of discipline and some reasonable goals, getting out of that financial hole is possible.

Tell me what you guys think. Have you every heard John Thompson speak live, and if so, what have you taken away from it? I’d be really interested to see what exactly you all learned from this financial genius.

I find that his theory of the four horsemen of the relationship apocalypse to be very interesting period he says that there are four things that lead to the end of a relationship, contempt, criticism, stonewalling, and defensiveness.

Through his readings, I've learned to take these destructive behaviors and replace them with more positive behaviors. These can include things like great communication, taking responsibility, respect, and appreciating your partner. I also find his teachings to be very enlightening because he focuses heavily on emotional intelligence.

For my own personal relationships, I can say that having emotional intelligence and being emotionally connected with a partner is perhaps one of the most important things of all. I've had a few relationships and due to any one of those pillars as described in his theory about the four horsemen.

Tell me, do any of you have experience with your relationships ending because of issues like criticism and contempt?

Tony Robbins puts a strong emphasis on setting clear goals and maintaining a positive outlook on life.

Tony Robbins is also an advocate of continuous action. In other words, he believes that massive action is needed to achieve the desired results you're looking for. Through various methods like time management, visualization, and gratitude, you can start living a much better life.

I really find that the way that Tony Robbins emphasizes the importance of contributing to other people and giving back to the community is quite inspiring. It's not just about personal growth, but helping others grow too.

This past weekend, Catholics around the world celebrated what's known as "Good Shepherd Sunday". Occurring every fourth Sunday after Easter, this is a day meant to spark discussion on what it means to be a good spiritual leader or "shepherd". On this point, Bishop Barron provided the following insight:

Barron said that a good shepherd must do three things. First, he or she must walk ahead of the flock - those who are led - in order to show them the way to their destination. Understood metaphorically, this means that a spiritual leader must dwell, at least partly, in the realm of spirit. He or she needs in some sense to seem "strange" or "foreign" to their students. If the shepherd is too relatable to the sheep, then the sheep cannot see a path forward to their desired destination of enlightenment. Indeed, the teacher knows the best way there, so it's his or her job to lead the way by example.

Second, a good shepherd needs simultaneously to abide within the flock. A spiritual leader needs to demonstrate to their students his or her basic humanity. They need to show students that enlightenment is attainable to all, even the most ordinary. This can be done by meeting them on their level, behaving "down to earth". Maybe this means going out to eat or playing a sport together. Anything to remind students that they are understood - they're friends.

Lastly, a good shepherd always remains behind the flock. From there, he or she constantly watches for any sheep that are led astray. These are the students struggling with spiritual brokenness. Maybe they are dealing with something difficult in their personal life, such as grief, the breakdown of a relationship, or simply an existential malaise. Either way, the good shepherd knows that these sheep are the ones most in need of help. Accordingly, they must be tended to and encouraged with love to return to the straight and narrow way.

A spiritual leader who does all three of these at once is a true success. By being simultaneously one step ahead, within, and one step behind, they will accompany their students on the path to spiritual growth and enlightenment.

I find this conception of the good shepherd extremely compelling, and I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts on it. Let's have a discussion!

P.S. If you want to watch Bishop Barron's sermon yourself, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jsSM2nUTvA&ab_channel=BishopRobertBarron