« Daily Exercises of Kindness Have gestures or words or looks that will do a little good. "A little sweetness in a world of bullies," an advertisement said a few years ago (for chocolate if I remember correctly). By car, stop at all the studded crossings as soon as there is a pedestrian on the horizon, even if we are in a hurry, even if they stopped to let us pass. We will then see them hesitate (a motorist who stops without having to?) and often thank for a small gesture in passing. It is not that complicated. We can also, at least a few days a month, decide to give to all the beggars we will meet. You can try, you will see, it is not so expensive. Observe how it takes you to get rid of the moods of hesitation ("I give? I'm not giving? Why to him more than to another? " (I should have given him"). Observe what it feels like to look into your eyes and give, smile, show that you are happy to give, instead of giving without a look, reluctantly. It's not much compared to the misery of the world? No, it's not much. As in André Breton's poem: A Star, Nothing But a Star / Lost in the Fur of the Night. »

« If, from time imedity, the company of smiling faces has always been preferred to that of dark faces, there is a reason: they often "contaminate" us, especially if the smiles are light, discreet, if they are available to happiness and exchange, and no demonstration and display. And on the other side of the world, there is also the emptiness around the morose and depressed people. Studies on this theme show6: 1) that contact with sad people increases negative moods in everyone, 2) that it also lowers positive moods in those who feel most "connected" to other humans. Showing one's sadness therefore hurts everyone, and extinguishes the joy of altruistic and compassionate humans. »

« We need the gentleness and strength of compassion. The more lucid we are about this world, the more we accept to see it as it is, and the more we realize this fact: we cannot encounter all the sufferings we encounter in a human life, without this strength and without this gentleness. This may not be enough, and more energies will be needed, but without the joyful and living energy of compassion, we will want to flee the violence of the world instead of getting closer to it to soften it. All the wounds we observe around us, all those that psychotherapists collect in the secrecy of their consultations, are related to the lack of love, created or amplified by it. Lack of gentleness, understanding, kindness, kindness. Yesterday's shortcomings, which hurt us; today's lacks, that awaken these wounds. Their healings will be linked to all forms and expressions of compassion. It's as simple as that. »