Well, ever wondered we live in a world lacking in compassion. We often learn compassion only after we have suffered—perhaps via disease, accident, illness, job loss, and marriage collapse, loss of a loved one, prejudice, discrimination, social derision, or bad luck. This makes me wonder why we wait for such incidents to make us compassionate?
We’ve all been disappointed, embarrassed, abandoned, neglected, and lonely at some point in our lives. These are our internal wounds, which are frequently left untreated because we do not perceive them as chances to give birth to compassion for others and all of life. It is excruciatingly uncomfortable. Allowing compassion to grow within us despite everything that has happened to us is the difficult part. Our vulnerability must be viewed as a source of power. We must be willing to forgive. Our pain serves as a lesson in compassion. We start to realize that we are not alone in our distress. In the same way that others suffer in and through us, we suffer in and through them. We become conscious of how we contribute to our own and others’ pain. We become more forgiving and understanding as a result of compassion. It’s the only way to speak with our shattered selves and a broken planet.
I believe, is the most challenging component of humanity: demonstrating compassion, kindness, empathy, and restraint. Without action, words are meaningless. What sort of message am I sending if I am cruel, intolerant, and furious while preaching virtues to anybody who will listen? That’s why I have always put myself in the shoes of others. This ability to understand the suffering of other people is an important component. Compassion for another person necessitates the presence of empathy and awareness. You must be able to comprehend what another person is going through and imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes.
What is compassion and how is it different from empathy?
Compassion is the act of assisting another person in alleviating their suffering by acts of kindness, care, and support. Empathy is a part of it, but it goes beyond that. Empathy means being aware of another person’s pain. It’s about recognizing and feeling their emotional state. It’s about not passing judgement. This isn’t about passing judgement on how another individual handles or doesn’t handle a difficult issue. Compassion is concerned more with the well-being of others than with one’s own. It’s a natural ability that many people have lost in today’s hectic world. Compassion becomes an attitude and a way of life when you practice it more frequently. You see the need for compassion and naturally identify as a kind person. It’s a part of your personality.
What is self-compassion?
Self-compassion is an important aspect of compassion that is frequently overlooked. It’s crucial to comprehend why compassion is so important. Self-compassion entails taking steps to alleviate your pain. It’s about prioritizing yourself and treating yourself with kindness and respect. It’s staying away from circumstances and individuals that could cause you pain. It is so much easier to be more compassionate with others when you’ve developed self-compassion first.
Why is compassion necessary?
Compassion encourages us to help when someone is in need because it acknowledges the seriousness of the situation. When we are filled with compassion, we can’t help but reach out to individuals who are going through difficult times. It makes us more aware of what other people are experiencing. It makes us care so deeply that we are filled with an overpowering desire to make a difference. Compassion forces us to take on responsibilities we never imagined we could bear. It transforms us into people we never imagined we could be. It gives meaning and purpose to our lives.
However, it is critical to recognize that compassion is more than a feeling; it is a way of life. People are lifted by compassion. It affirms, praises, and accepts other people’s humanity. It’s honest, sincere, and heartfelt. It is the acknowledgement of another person’s worth. It’s the urge to make the human experience better for everyone, not just for ourselves. The wonderful effects of compassion are magnified when the person who receives it shares the advantages with others because nothing has a faster influence in life. Simply by committing one little act of compassion after another, we can make a significant difference in the world.
Can Compassion be learned?
Absolutely. While some of us are more empathetic than others due to our upbringing and other variables, interventions that promote compassion show that compassion can be taught. Furthermore, such interventions have been linked to an increase in positive variables like social interaction.
Naturally, teaching compassion to young children should begin with them establishing a road towards empathy, compassion, and kindness while their personalities and beliefs are still forming.
How to cultivate Compassion?
- Start by practicing self-compassion
When we make mistakes, we all have harsh inner critics that evaluate us, tear us down, and punish us. You’ll find it tough to be compassionate with others when they exhibit their humanity as long as you have an inner general berating you for your unavoidable flaws.
- Put yourself in someone else’s shoes
Life is difficult, but we are all doing our best. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is waging a hard struggle,” as the saying says.
- Practice kindness, without people-pleasing
“My faith is extremely simple,” says the Dalai Lama. Kindness is my religion.” Many people, on the other hand, conflate people-pleasing and approval-seeking with kindness. Kindness does not include sacrificing your values to make someone else happy. Genuine kindness originates from a point of inner wholeness, where the giver and receiver are the same. True kindness blesses you as much as it blesses the person you’re serving, whether you’re providing presents, offering forgiveness, or bestowing affection.
- Relax your judgments
What if we could simply let go of all our dualistic judgments that categorize everything as “right” or “wrong,” “good” or “bad?” What if we could just accept that life is difficult and that everyone is doing their best? Getting rid of self-judgments is the first step toward letting go of other people’s judgments.
- Heal your trauma
If you don’t let go of unresolved trauma, you’ll unwittingly traumatize others. Inner unrest tends to inflict outside turmoil, just as the abused child often grows up to be the abuser. If you require profound inner healing, seek the help of a qualified therapist, spiritual counsellor, or life coach who can guide you through the process. Compassion is a natural by-product of doing the work to heal your psyche and connect to your soul.
- Practice presence
Try to be fully present with everyone you come into contact with. Avoid looking at your phone, multitasking, peaking at the TV behind your lunch date, or paying attention to anyone besides the person with whom you’re having lunch. Make eye contact with the other person. Take note of your body language. Examine whether you can truly sense what the other is thinking beneath the words. When you’re fully there, you’re more likely to be perceived as compassionate.
Here are four fast techniques to improve your self-compassion skills:
- Comfort your body
Allow your body to relax. Consume a nutritious meal. Rest by lying down. Massage your neck, foot, or hands-on your own. Take a stroll. Any action you do to improve your physical well-being will provide you with a dose of self-compassion.
- Write a letter to yourself
Write yourself a note. Consider a situation in which you were in pain (a breakup with a lover, a job loss, a poorly received presentation). Write yourself a letter in which you describe the situation without blaming anyone, including yourself. Use this activity to help you take care of your emotions.
- Encourage Yourself
Give yourself some motivation. Consider what you would say to a trusted friend who is going through a difficult or stressful situation. Then, when you’re in a scenario like this, aim your loving responses toward yourself.
- Practice mindfulness –
Make an effort to be mindful. Even a brief practice, such as a few minutes of meditation, can help us nurture and embrace ourselves while we’re in pain.
It’s all too tempting in today’s hectic society to believe that people have lost touch with one another. People can sometimes feel helpless in the face of bad news, believing that there is little they can do to influence what is going on in the world. Compassion is a skill that may be honed and improved over time. People may be able to develop deeper, more meaningful connections with others by learning how to increase their compassion, which will drive good deeds, helpful behaviors, and ordinary human kindness. Never regret the kindness you showed somebody who didn’t deserve it. They did you wrong, you did them right and for that, you should be right. A single act of compassion can change a person’s life forever. Therefore, Be Kind, Be Gentle, Be Generous, Be compassionate to everyone today, So that tomorrow, other people will be compassionate and generous to you.
– By Saloni Lad
