Here at noQ we are trying to eliminate homlessness while helping ourselves. Inspired by Dalai Lama we call this black belt in compassion = selfcompassion.

Here is a guide for how to qualify: First you need to avoid the apathy lane. It can be very hard when you are used to Netflix or World of Warcraft. So stop reading here. Here are some better links – bye:

Apathy – “I see homeless people on the street, but it’s not my problem. Someone else will deal with it.” (No concern or action taken.)

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Then, when you have decided to not be apathic, you feel sympathy, but thats all for now.
Sympathy – “I feel bad for them. It must be tough to be homeless.” (Acknowledges their suffering but does not deeply connect or take action other than giving money.)

After stumbling on a homeless person one time too many you start feeling empathy. It is not much but a good start and you have earned the white belt in compassion.
Empathy – “I can only imagine how hard it must be to have nowhere to sleep at night. That must be terrifying and exhausting.” (Tries to feel and understand their experience emotionally.)

After a lot of toughts and bad sleep you finally decide to do something. You actively going to spend your precious time and sign up for a help organization as a volunteer. This is the yellow belt in compassion.
Compassion – “I feel their pain, and I want to help. I’m going to donate food or volunteer at a shelter.” (Not only feels for them but takes action to ease their suffering.)

After helping homeless people for a while, you understand your effort is only helping the situation for homeless. And that not bad, but you also understand new guests will come as the old ones go. Homelessness will always be there and you are only taking care of the symptoms, not the root cause and elimination of homelessness. Some people stop here but not noQ. Its now when you become altruistic and you will get the green belt in compassion.
Altruism – “I will spend my time and resources to help, whether it’s donating, volunteering, or advocating for policy changes, even if I get nothing in return.” (Selfless action purely for their benefit.)

After working with noQ a while we expect you to have learned something, have got new friends and perhaps a paid work through our network. You sleep very well and you feel that you are doing something important for the future. You have finally earned your black belt in compassion, also called self-compassion.
Self-compassion – “I want to help, but I also need to take care of myself. I can’t give all my time and money, but I’ll do what I can without burning out.” (Balancing helping others while being kind to oneself.)

So sign up as noQ volunteer and get your black belt?

Get your black belt here