Do I already know what compassion is?

From a young age, many of us are told to be compassionate. However, how many of us can confidently say that we know what compassion is? Is it kindness? Empathy? Here is our take on compassion and some concepts that are commonly confused with it!

What is compassion?

Compassion is the capacity of noticing suffering, being moved by that suffering, recognizing it as part of the shared human suffering and seeking to alleviate that pain.

4 things compassion is not:

Pity

Whether it is self-pity or pity towards others, pity stops when we notice suffering and feel bad for the person who is suffering. Compassion is where you reflect on that bad feeling and empathise with it. Moreover, compassion entails seeing instances of pain as part of our shared human experiences and sparks a desire to relieve that suffering with love and inclusivity.

Kindness

One can act out of both kindness and compassion, but the two concepts are vastly different! Kindness is being considerate, generous and friendly. Compassion, on the other hand, arises when we see suffering. 

Mindfulness

Mindfulness and compassion often go hand-in-hand. Mindfulness is a necessary element of compassion for without it, we would not be aware of suffering. Mindfulness means being attentive to the experiences around and within you, as well as being attentive to the implications your actions have on others and vice versa. 

Empathy

Empathy is often thought to be similar to compassion and that is true! Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Compassion is an empathetic response that arises when we become aware of suffering.

On the surface, compassion seems intuitive and basic. However, there are actually many nuances to compassion! When you think you are acting out of compassion, you may actually be acting out of pity, kindness, mindfulness or empathy. We invite you to be aware of the differences between these experiences. There is nothing more heartwarming than people coming together to support and help each other in recognition of their shared human experiences!