I think that in many cases people tend to expect the other person to respond to them in a positive way first, rather than taking the initiative themselves to create that possibility.
I feel that's wrong; it leads to problems and can act as a barrier that just serves to promote a feeling of isolation from others.
So if you wish to overcome that feeling of isolation and loneliness, I think that your underlying attitude makes a tremendous difference. And approaching others with the thought of compassion in your mind is the best way to do this.
Within all beings there is the seed of perfection. However, compassion is required in order to activate that seed which is inherent in our hearts and minds.
Whenever I meet people I always approach them from the standpoint of the most basic things we have in common.
We each have a physical structure, a mind, emotions.
We are all born in the same way, and we all die.
All of us want happiness and do not want to suffer.
Looking at others from this standpoint rather than emphasising secondary differences, such as the fact that I am Tibetan, or a different colour, religion or cultural background, allows me to have a feeling that I'm meeting someone just the same as me.
I find that relating to others on that level makes it easier to exchange and communicate with one another.
~ Excerpted from The Essence of Happiness: A Guidebook for Living (His Holiness the Dalai Lama) and Howard C.Cutler, M.D.
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