Pity, Overwhelm, Idiot compassion

This week and for the next while I want to start working on those things that obstruct change, that obstruct my ability to feel and sustain compassion for myself and others.

I'm going to do this in a systematic way.  This week look at the first near enemy of compassion: pity. According to Pema Chodron pity obstructs real compassion because it props up a story that we're better than someone. When we see another person as helpless, we don't see their strengths.

Another thing I might want to take a look at is self-pity.  This props up the story that I'm less than others and that I can solve my problems by appealing to pity.