The world needs people who care. Empathy seems to be in short supply these days, and we the people are suffering in that shortage. The world needs the compassionate, the light-hearted, the spirited. The world needs people who care.

This world is a beaten, broken-down place; a cesspool of rotten relationships and broken dreams. People are flawed, and wronged, and generally mistreated. There is suffering across the globe in so many forms — starvation, war, disease, depression, poverty... My question is, what can we do about it?

I'm no philosopher. I'm barely a scholar. And I don't presume to be the one to state any kind of reasoning behind the trials the people of the world face. I do, however, understand what we can do to combat this. It may seem like a small thing, one drop of water in an excessively large pail, but it is definitely a thing. And it is definitely worth doing.

Disclaimer: yoga terms ahead.

Now, before I lose you in yoga-speak, understand this. I'm not preaching, and I'm not converting. I'm relaying what I was taught because I feel that it can better the world. So before you run away from the "hokey yoga things," keep an open mind and read on.

Throughout my yoga teacher training, we learned about the eight limbs of yoga: yama, niyama, asanas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. Of those, we spent quite a bit of time on the first limb, the yamas. The yamas form a system of universal morality that focuses on how you treat others, and there are five of them: ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, and aparigraha. Simply put, they are things that any person with a conscience tries to do daily. With a little focus, and a little effort, these ideas have the power to change the world.

Let's begin with ahimsa, which means having a compassion for all living things. Many construe this as becoming a vegetarian, and that's all well and good, but there's more to it than that. Practicing ahimsa means showing kindness to all living things - not just those who show it to you, not just those who deserve it, but all. How many situations could be solved, battles avoided, and people helped by a simple and meaningful act of kindness.

Following ahimsa is satya, or truthfulness. When we were learning this principle in our training, my mind kept drifting back to a line from an Emily Dickinson poem. She wrote, "Tell all the truth but tell it slant," and went on to elaborate that being completely honest is necessary, but honesty with compassion and concern for others, honesty with ahimsa, is extraordinary.

Building from there is asteya, or non-stealing. Now, obviously, we shouldn't go around taking people's things - it's not nice. But this can also apply to the intangible things in life - ideas, emotions, words, joy. Asteya correlates to both ahimsa and satya, forming a web of good intentions that can only help others.

The fourth yama is brahmacharya, or sense control. Many associate this with abstinence or celibacy. But, simply put, it means sexual discretion, and it is a reminder to use our energy and our emotions wisely and with concern for others. Our pursuit in life and relationships should be focused and deliberate; our concern should be spreading hope and life and joy. Unfortunately, a lack of self-control, especially in the physical realm, can be harmful to both ourselves and others, whereas discretion can prevent that and protect the heart and the joy instead.

The fifth and final yama is aparigraha, which amounts to an idea of non-hoarding. The focus on material wealth and social status in this world is prevalent in every culture. The greed, the hunger for more stuff, cooler stuff, bigger and better stuff, is predominant and quite honestly horrifying. How many people are hurt daily by others who are trying to get ahead? How many people are thrown under the bus, so to speak, for others to make a dollar, get a promotion, or climb the social ladder. From grade school our children learn how to steal, bully, browbeat, and demand. The world is a hungry place, and the desire for wealth becomes insatiable to those who let it control them. But just imagine if we combat this with kindness and generosity? I'm not saying you should sell all you have and go live on the streets, so don't get ridiculous. But imagine if the desire to gain was transformed into the desire to give.

The yamas are the embodiment of virtues referenced and taught in all religions across the board. They are a beacon of light and life in a world troubled by so much darkness and pain. And they are simple concepts. All they require of you is that you act like a decent human being. Show some humanity, and be the light.

I'll say again, the world is broken, and people need love. Be love.