How Do I Move Towards Compassion?

Is it possible that one of the reasons we see so little caring and compassion in the world is that we are overwhelmed with our sense of estrangement and searching?  Not understanding who we are, self-fulfillment is an endless search instead of an anchor, and the end result is that life is a selfish, "me first" game that results in our wanting to win every round or insisting that everyone be first, provided it is first, after you.