It's easy to feel that life has lost its meaning both spiritually and emotionally because of the frenetic pace we rush through it nowadays. Many women describe an emptiness, sense of isolation, and sometimes loneliness about their life. It's often hard for them to put their finger on why they have these feelings, and where they come from, because they do have loved ones yet they still feel disconnected.

Many of these feelings are to do with simply not making time for the small pleasures of life and to give simple 'kindnesses'. We don't enjoy enough quiet moments either to recharge ourselves or to enjoy our loved ones' company.

But there are many other things besides a lack of time that compound these feelings that the world's a harsh place, with little compassion and few friendly faces. Noticing others giving off a negative vibe - from bullying in the office to rudeness in a shop and all points inbetween - means that many kind and compassionate people 'close down' from the world. But by closing down from others, we all lose out.

Instead, we need to find compassion - that distinctly human quality that guides us in looking for the best in others, finding the best in ourselves, and giving something positive and good without expecting some sort of 'return'.

Ten routes to kindness and compassion
Open your heart: Don't judge a book by its cover - this classic saying is so very true. We close our hearts to so many people because they don't 'look' like they'd fit in with our group at work or crowd of friends at home. You miss out on many opportunities for new friendships by judging people too quickly on first appearances.

Be the first: When someone new arrives at your place of work or joins your mother-toddler group, be the first person to go over with a warm smile and a simple hello. We fear making this initial contact for reasons that are in actual fact meaningless, for example that we won't make scintillating conversation or impress this new person. Those things don't matter to the new compassionate you.

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Find the compassion and kindness in your soul