Scope

What is the scope of your practice or application of values to daily life? In psychological circles, scope is often described in terms of limits and boundaries. A limit is the extent to which practice enables or tolerates the behaviors of others. A boundary is the definition of where an individual's personal space or needs or values confront the boundary of another person or group of people. A mature person has conscious limits and boundaries. A person with undeveloped identity, who operates on reflex from circumstance to circumstance,  has no conscious limits or boundaries.

The scope of my humanism is dependent on my limits and boundaries. Much of Buddhist teaching is about mastery of the mind and body entail instruction on developing limits and boundaries which promote freedom from desire and attachment. Understanding the scope of my abilities in the context of my humanist practice allows me to concentrate on those actions and thoughts which best promote and further develop  my mindfulness and compassion. 

The scope of my practice is challenging. It entails being my values to the best of my ability in my daily moments, consciously and intentionally. Having a clear sense of self enables me to be free to extend my compassion to others without fear that my own life will be overcome by the needs of others. The result is an extension of the scope of my practice in any given environment. Being able to say "no" as easily as saying "yes" when appropriate is essential to living a joyful and peaceful life. Surprisingly, the ability to say a confident "no" to myself and others when it is appropriate to the scope of my practice increases my ability to say "yes" in more situations.