Every day, try to have compassion for five kinds of people: someone you’re grateful to (a “benefactor”), a loved one or friend, a neutral person, someone who is difficult for you—and yourself. For example, sometimes I’ll look at a stranger on the street (a neutral person), get a quick sense of him or her, and then access a sense of compassion. You can also bring compassion to animals and plants, or toward groups of people (e.g., children, those who are ill, Republicans or Democrats). Compassion is for everyone.
