Is it possible to care about everyone?

[otherlander]

Not just in an abstract being-socially-conscious way, but really care about everyone as a person? I thought I did. For a pretty long time, I thought I did. But then yesterday I woke up feeling entirely numb and apathetic. There was no hope that anything would improve, and that didn't bother me at all. I told someone who I knew, "Hey, you could show me videos of people getting shot right now and I don't think I'd even care." And he said, "Well, you can't worry about all the bad things that are happening in the world."
I don't think I agree. But what do you think? Obviously, cynicism and apathy are often defenses against being shocked, horrified, and depressed. But could one make a conscious decision not to allow themselves to become cynical? If someone, being fully aware of the pain that it would cause them, but deciding that it would be worth every second of it, decided not to become apathetic, could they continue to care about everyone? Is it possible to choose to feel everything rather than becoming comfortably numb? Could a person, even after losing hope, not lose any of their love? That is, could a person who had despaired still care about a person or situation just as much as they had cared when they were full of hope?

[Iggo]

1. That's a lot of questions.

But in answer to the first one: Yes. I tried it. It took too much outa me. I couldn't care about everybody and be happy at the same time.

[otherlander]

2. Ok.

That makes sense.

[ThomCat]

3. I don't think we're wired to be able to care about everyone.

I think that's why a lot of meditation or prayer is usually required. It allows you to gradually rewire your brain. :shrug:

[otherlander]

4. Interesting... I try to meditate but I'm not any good at it.

:shrug: