Some years ago, I found this short compassion exercise typed up on a card at a local cafe. It is designed to increase compassion for ourselves as well as other people.
When you find yourself in conflict with someone, simply hold them in your awareness and repeat to yourself:
1) Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for their life.
2) Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in their life.
3) Just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness and despair.
4) Just like me, this person is seeking to fulfil their needs.
5) Just like me, this person is learning about life.
The exercise can be done with strangers, family, friends, lovers, people from your past, and other life forms.
Source: ReSurfacing: Techniques for Exploring Consciousness by Harry Palmer.
Try it and let me know about your experience!
Note: I’ve written the exercise out verbatim, with edits for gender neutral pronouns. I am not affiliated with Harry Palmer or, to be honest, know much about his work, so this isn’t an endorsement. But I like this exercise and use it in my own life.
Love the compassion exercise!