Compassion

Can you imagine what society would be like if everyone was a little more compassionate towards one another? I want to remind you all that being compassionate doesn’t cost you a thing, and it’s something that can have a ripple effect on the people that surround you.  I think everyone has a varying degree of compassion embedded within their DNA, but to what extent do we as individuals exemplify this trait?

Compassion is embedded among other key qualities like empathy and altruism, but goes one step further. “Compassion is defined as the emotional response when perceiving suffering and involves an authentic desire to help.” So while there may be altruistic behavior or an empathetic response to someone’s suffering, compassion involves a desire to relieve one from the suffering. Regardless of whether or not someone is suffering a little or a lot, I think showing support, acceptance, and that you can put yourself in someone else’s shoes will make individuals and society better off as a whole. In fact, “research has shown that when we feel compassion, our heart rate slows down, we secrete the ‘bonding hormone’ oxytocin, and regions of the brain linked to empathy, caregiving, and feelings of pleasure light up, which often results in our wanting to approach and care for other people.”

Interestingly enough, there are physical and psychological benefits to being compassionate. Compassion is directly correlated with our overall well-being and can lead to a more meaningful life. Scientists have done brain-imaging studies that prove we receive more pleasure from giving than the act of receiving. I don’t want you to think that giving can only come in the form of money. You can give back in many more ways than you think: encouraging, listening, spending time on someone/something...the list is endless- be creative! Compassion protects against stress and even leads to living a longer life since the levels of cellular inflammation that lead to diseases and cancer are much lower in compassionate people.

Aside from the health benefits, we become socially connected as a community, and this creates a chain reaction. The chain reaction is a positive loop of social, emotional, and physical well-being that gets passed from one person to another and can give us deeper meaning and perspective into life. You’ve seen the pay it forward stuff in the media with Starbucks or McDonalds, and in my opinion this contagious behavior is just as likely to occur with compassion. Maybe I am a dreamer, but I think if we all act more compassionate towards one another the world will be a better place. Food for thought: Can you find indestructible happiness in isolation?  Will your happiness be indestructible if everyone else around you suffers?