You may sense that bare empathy is not enough to inspire you to positive action today. Once you identify this deficiency, your first response may be to deprive yourself of some of the luxuries that make your everyday existence easier, more fulfilling, or more colorful. Your ability to cope with these losses will likely reassure you of your capabilities, while awakening your deepest sympathies for those who must bear iniquities that are due to circumstance. Whether you choose to take the bus to work or temporarily cut your budget today, you may find that you are newly conscious of the scope of your abundance and feel intensely driven to share your prosperity with others.

When we allow ourselves to experience a fraction of the suffering endured by those who are less fortunate than ourselves, we are inspired by our own reactions to give the time, energy, and resources we can spare. Many people do not feel compelled to share their abundance with others because they have never dealt with true pain, want, or injustice. Drawing just a small draught from the fount of suffering awakens our empathy. The tiny taste we imbibe opens our eyes to the sheer scope of the challenges that others endure, and inspires us to do everything we can to ensure that many people can enjoy the same blessings we enjoy. Walking a mile in someone else's shoes today will spark your sympathies, motivating you to champion for those in need.