This sparked something in me. I began to consider the connection between Compassion and Empathy. Compassion is the physical expression of the spiritual connection we all share, and Empathy is born out of this. Empathy itself is identification with another without being “attached” to it. There is simply an observation of the other’s present condition, and a caring for them that comes out of it. Sympathy is generated by an attached identification and caring for another that is ego-generated. It is the “I want to change things so you do not suffer.” Where Empathy is “I understand and identify with your suffering.” Therefore, a detached expression of our spiritual connection to all there is brings us good spiritual health, and fosters our life-connections. In my NDE and in life I have, I did, and do, experience this. This spiritual knowing allows for me to serve others without getting “burnt out”. It allows for me to express love without ego getting in the way.

“We have more than five senses, and not everything meets the eye.“

~ Roman Krznaric

PDF: How Should We Live?
by Roman Krznaric
Publisher: Bluebridge
(December 1, 2013)

Book Description
Twelve universal topics including work, love, and family; time, creativity, and empathy are explored in this book by illuminating the past and revealing the wisdom that people have been missing. Looking to history for inspiration can be surprisingly powerful. In How Should We Live?, cultural thinker Roman Krznaric shares ideas and stories from history each of which sheds invaluable light on decisions made every day. There is much to be learned from the ancient Greeks about the different varieties of love, for example, from the Renaissance about living with passion and facing the realities of death, from various indigenous cultures on bringing up our children, and from Japanese pilgrims on the art of travel. History is…

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Author: Krista Gorman, PA-C

I am a Physician Assistant and Near Death Experiencer. My goal for creating this Blog is to bring what I learned in the afterlife into the 3-D world. There is so much to say and I am presently revising my book I Died And Learned How To Live to continue the process of sharing it all. In the meantime, I will blog here about things I believe will help someone else. I am here to be of service and bring the message of love to others. Thank you so very much for being here. Please feel free to leave your email if you'd like to get on my list. I won't flood your in box with messages. Love to you all! xox

2 thoughts on “How should I live?”

Hunt FOR Truth

December 29, 2013 at 11:44 AM

YAY! This is a very important area of knowledge for Christians. We have lots of guidance from our religious institutions that helping others is essential for our spiritual life – and this is so true. How can we go about getting better at it is what I’ve been posting about. Most of my posts have been from the masters – there is a long list of related posts at the end of this one (my page).
Its my experience that while Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs applies nicely to the comfortable living as a student or worker, that it is up side down for those of us that rise up into the higher functioning roles of spouse, parent, mentor, executive/manager, clergy, youth leadership, etc.
When I say up side down, I mean that our higher level (true self) needs must be met to support the intense relationship connections of marriage, parenting and leadership.
Awareness in layers is how I see the growth occurrence by my observation of the best practices leaders.
Maslow in my estimation didn’t write enough about his later findings when he’d spent a great deal of time studying the most successful “self-actualized” people that his work involved him with. I give him kudos for his work for it was instrumental for bringing compassion into treatment of mental illness as well as for a foundation knowledge for social services worker, medical assisting of any type, psychologists, human resources benefits advisory, and so on.
Compassion ultimately is an ability for understanding the emotional status of another person. While compassion is often combined with a desire to reduce the toil or suffering of another or to show special kindness its highest use it to lead an individual to feel empathy with another person and then to take appropriate healthy action – healthy for both the giver and the receiver. Compassion + empathy are necessary for fully functional effective partner skills. The needs of marriage, parenting, and leadership roles actually require this level of actualization for true helping and partnering with others in mutual spiritual, mental emotional growing together.
Thanks for re-blogging this Krista.
~ Eric

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