Compassion: what it is, meaning and examples

George Alvarez 10-07-2023
George Alvarez

Have you ever felt compassion To answer this question it is necessary to understand the meaning of this emotion, which is one of the most powerful emotions for a better world. Many times we confuse it with pity, but it is not that. It means more than simply being moved by another's pain, it is an emotion that also leads to action Do something to improve someone's life, and your own.

Sometimes compassion is confused with empathy, but there is a big difference between the two concepts. Understanding the difference is important in order to use compassion in your life. Empathy is the ability to identify with another person's suffering.

Compassion, on the other hand, has an extra element, which is action. A compassionate person tries to find a way to ease the pain of another. In other words, compassion is basically taking action to alleviate the suffering of another. To understand more about this valuable emotion and have it transform your life and the lives of others, check out this article until the end.

What is compassion?

To understand what compassion is means to consider that it is a feeling generated inside each one of us, like any other, but what differentiates it, mainly, is the action. Who is compassionate is not someone who feels sorry for the other, but rather show respect to their pain and help in some way to lessen their distress.

Above all, the beauty of compassion lies in the desire to help without expecting anything in return, simply to do good. In short, compassion refers to doing everything possible to reduce or eliminate the suffering of another. This is immensely beneficial, for the compassionate person, by putting himself in the position of promoting the well-being of others, will feel an intense satisfaction.

Being compassionate is not about whether or not you approve of someone's behavior. You don't have to like everyone to be compassionate. It is important to be able to feel and do good with everyone, even those who bring bad feelings to you. This aptitude is one of the most essential skills to be compassionate.

Compassion in the dictionary

Compassion, in the dictionary, means the feeling of pity for the suffering of others. Feeling of grief and sadness over another's tragedy and the expression of the will to help in order to comfort the other from his or her suffering.

The word compassion, etymologically, originates from the Latin compassionis, In this sense, compassion represents the union of someone's feelings with another's, generating, as a consequence, solidarity and altruism, which, without a doubt, are fundamental acts for the survival of humanity.

Importance of the concept of compassion

Feeling compassion is fundamental to personal and collective well-being However, it is only possible to be a compassionate person when one is aware of the suffering or the threat of suffering of another human being. One must then recognize and desire the relief or removal of the other's pain. In this way, the compassionate person becomes better able to deal with life situations.

Imagine a reality in which there was no solidarity and compassion: everyone would be focused on satisfying their own interests, which would make social coexistence unfeasible. Without the willingness to care about the welfare of others, it would be impossible to achieve a collective welfare

Feeling of compassion in relationships

As said above, the feeling of compassion is primordial to contribute to social relationships. By approaching the other without any restrictions or judgments, we are able to understand the difficulties, to understand what the other is feeling, and from this, to find better results for the challenges.

The feeling of benevolence that arises from compassion is a force that heals our problems and sufferings, To see the other as someone equal and as complex as ourselves gives us feelings like:

  • perception that we are not alone ;
  • not close ourselves in our personal circumstances ;
  • understand that we are parts of a whole;
  • we can act for our own well-being and for everyone's.

Is it possible to learn how to be compassionate?

First of all, know this, according to the master Dalai Lama, there are two kinds of compassion . The first is innate and biological that is, that it is part of instinct, being what causes, for example, the welcoming of parents to their children and the care for their well-being from birth.

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Moreover, this behavior can also be found among different kinds of living creatures, where many offspring would not survive without the affection and care received from their mothers and relatives.

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On the other hand, the second type of compassion involves the use of human intelligence to enhance the feeling In this way, through education, one can learn compassion and apply it to benefit not only friends and family, but also other people who are having difficulties.

In the meantime, Dalai Lama emphasizes that there is a big difference between the two kinds of compassion. If we follow our biological instinct, affection will be restricted only to the people close to us, like family and companions. However, if we use our conscience and intelligence to train compassion, we can extend it to also help those we don't know.

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Examples of how to have compassion

However, it is worth reiterating about the importance of the noble feeling of compassion. It is an important quality that helps us form meaningful relationships with other people, make moral choices, and navigate through life's various adversities. Here are some examples of how we can show compassion to ourselves and to others:

  • Be kind and gentle to everyone you interact with;
  • choose to be patient in difficult situations ;
  • offer help to other people without expecting anything in return ;
  • Practice active listening to understand the perspectives of others ;
  • Go beyond your comfort zone and understand the differences between people.

Therefore, compassion is a fundamental feeling that we should all have. In short, it is a way of expressing empathy, of putting ourselves in the other person's shoes and understanding what he or she is feeling, and even more, finding ways to help him or her in their pain.

Thus, it is a quality that helps us relate better to the world, because it allows us to see beyond our own limitations and leads us to offer help to those in need. A compassion is, therefore, a powerful force that motivates us to be better and to contribute to a better world.

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George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.