Compassion - A personal statement

The posts during the past few weeks have been on the idea and practice of Compassion. Some of us have these as inborn traits. There is enough work in neurobiology to show that these traits can also be developed through practice. Metta meditation is one such practice. 

I have quoted several sacred texts and past masters on loving-kindness and compassion. How can I express these thoughts in my own words? Before I learn metta meditation, and to practice it, I need to keep the following thought in my mind during all my interactions: “How can I ever hurt you without hurting a part of myself? How can I not make myself happy when I make you happy?”