When realizing we failed to react compassionately,

imagine how a role model would have reacted, 

 can help us improve. 

If we have been cultivating for a while, when something predictable happens we would expect to react better than we would have previously. But what of the times when we’re so surprised it’s as if we never learned Buddhism?

Or good manners, apparently.

For example, shocked by a person’s unexpected decline in health, we fail to adapt to his new condition quickly enough to bring him a chair.

Relieved and elated that a dreaded visit went well, we fail to offer to help the person get to her next destination.

Imagining how a bodhisattva would have reacted in the circumstances is one option, but trying to emulate an awakened being can be daunting. Much less intimidating is envisioning how someone we know and admire would have acted. Repeatedly doing this when we fail to measure up should prepare us to react more thoughtfully in the future regardless of the circumstances.