So Start with you, and let love in to open your heart. If you need support in your efforts at acceptance and understanding, here are four practices that will help your heart stay open and connected to new, beneficial ideas for right action:

Meditation: The benefits of this practice can’t be overstated. I find it helpful to think of it as a work out for my brain that then supports my efforts at improving everything else. Even one minute a day is helpful!
Writing: I always recommend starting with a story about your life. While I know journaling is good for you in so many ways, I am a fan of story-telling as a way to re-understand the world around you. As we write the stories of our life, we start to THINK about the stories that might inform the reactions and actions of the people around us, and we increase our capacity for empathy.
Reading: While it may feel like a “waste of time” when you have so many distractions competing for your attention, reading literary fiction is actually recommended for autistic children as a way to improve their ability to relate to others. This is because, unlike the exaggerated circumstances of memoirs or popular genre fiction, literary fiction usually encourages us to imagine the hidden story behind a “normal” character’s current circumstance. As we surmise the inner reasons that characters act the way that they do, we practice understanding others. This lessens our tendency to quick judgements and our empathy improves in a measurable way.
Yoga: I really get it. I hated yoga too, but I can share enough benefits to fill a book, literally. Yoga improves your ability to stay calm in the midst of a challenging circumstance and stops the crazy cortisol rush that drives most impulsive or fear-based choices. The practice of yoga teaches stillness and mind body awareness, which helps you choose beneficial reactions and actions.