Can I Help?

Our thoughts can be converted in a second.

Imagine yourself rushing to class with an armful of books, the coffee you just bought, and your purse. Suddenly, somebody bumps into you and you lose your balance. You throw out your arms to try to stop yourself from falling and manage to catch yourself. But in the attempt your books go flying in all directions, your coffee cup falls to the walkway spilling its contents, and your purse opens and all the contents fall out. 

You turn around to yell at the idiot who caused this. You're about to yell "What's wrong with you! Why don't you look where you're going!" but you catch yourself. You're looking at an elderly woman who has fallen to the ground. She looks like she is about to cry. In an instant, you rush to her "Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself? Can I help you get up?"

If we could see as clearly the suffering and unhappiness behind the actions of others, we will be much less inclined to allow those feelings of irritation and self-pity to arise. Instead, we will be trying to find out if others are alright, if they are hurt, if they can help themselves or if they need our help.