As I reflect on the past year’s journey, one word has persistently whispered to me, calling me toward a more intentional and empathetic path. Karuna.
It’s a Sanskrit word that I heard during a morning meditation via my Calm app. It transcends the simple English translation of “compassion,” carrying a profound invitation to understand, connect, and heal within it.
The roots of Karuna run deep into the soul of human experience.
In Buddhist philosophy, compassion is more than a passive feeling of sympathy. Karuna is an active, dynamic compassion—a conscious choice to recognize the suffering of others and to take meaningful action to alleviate that pain. It’s compassion with muscle, with purpose, and with transformative potential.
Etymologically, the word emerges from the Sanskrit verb “kṛ,” which means “to do” or “to act.” This linguistic nuance is crucial. Karuna isn’t about feeling sorry for someone; it’s about feeling with them and moving forward together.
It’s compassion that doesn’t just observe but actively engages.
Karuna in A Business Framework
As a brand and marketing strategist, I’ve realized that Karuna is not just a personal philosophy—it’s a powerful business principle. Genuine compassion becomes a revolutionary act in a world increasingly characterized by disconnection.
I often imagine people I meet holding a sign telling me a deeper story about their work, life, and existence. It can reveal unhealed childhood pain or recent life difficulties. By being present and aware of someone else’s difficulties, I get a glimpse into their soul so I can better understand how I can be helpful to them on their journey.
We transcend transactional relationships when we approach our clients, teams, and audiences with genuine empathy and a desire to understand their deeper needs.
For me, embracing Karuna in 2025 means reimagining success.
It means asking, “How can I serve?”
Karuna means listening more deeply and understanding the unspoken challenges behind every brief, every meeting, and every collaboration. It means recognizing that behind every data point and every metric, there are human stories of struggle, hope, and resilience.
This compassionate approach isn’t about being soft or losing a strategic edge.
On the contrary, it’s about gaining profound insights. When we truly see and hear others, we unlock creative solutions that rigid, purely profit-driven thinking could never imagine. Karuna becomes a lens of innovation, a way of perceiving challenges that opens up extraordinary possibilities.
Into 2025 – Eyes Wide Open
As I enter 2025, I’m committing to Karuna not just as a personal practice but as a professional philosophy.
It means being vulnerable enough to acknowledge where systems may be broken, courageous enough to propose healing alternatives, and humble enough to know that true transformation is a collective journey.
The beauty of Karuna is that it’s both a destination and a path. It asks us to expand our circles of concern and recognize our fundamental interconnectedness. In a world that often feels fragmented, compassion becomes a bridge—connecting not just individuals but entire ecosystems of possibility.
So, here’s to Karuna.
Here’s to compassion in action.
Here’s to 2025, defined not by competition but by genuine understanding and collaborative growth.
Connect with Jeff at The Marketing Sage Consultancy. Interested in setting up a call with me? Use my calendly to schedule a time to talk. The call is free, and we can discuss your brand and marketing needs.
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Photo by Dave Lowe on Unsplash (word compassion)
Photo by Marina Vitale on Unsplash (Face)
