Compassion

Compassion is noticing your own or someone else's suffering and being ready to respond in a way that alleviates the pain or supports the person.

Definition

Compassion is different from pity because it does not put the other person lower. It also differs from empathy itself, because it contains an element of care and action. It can apply to others and to yourself. In a healthy form, it needs boundaries, because compassion without boundaries can lead to overload.

Key ideas

Missing key ideas.

Practice and life

In a difficult situation, ask: what would be kind and responsible now? This does not always mean consent; sometimes it means a boundary.

Common misunderstanding

It is a mistake to confuse compassion with leniency. It is also a mistake to help at the expense of your own health and boundaries.

Questions for self-reflection

No questions for self-reflection.

Sources

No sources.