Increasing research attention has been received to the importance of compassion which is widely brecognized. Compassion, among other pro-social attitudes and practices, has been related to improved health and wellbeing in persons and, potentially in society. having discovered that helping others gives us the same pleasure as satisfying our own desires is a just stunning find.
Despite the lack of consensus on definition, Clara strauss and colleagues have proposed « a new definition of compassion as a cognitive, afective, and behavioral process consisting of the following five elements that refer to both self-and other-compassion :
1-recognizing suffering
2- understanding the universality of suffering in human experience
3- feeling empathy for the person suffering and connecting with the distress (emotional resonance)
4-tolerating uncomfortable feelings aroused in response to the suffering person (e.g. distress, anger, fear) so remaining open to and ccepting of the person suffering
5- motivating to act/acting to alleviate suffering. »
Empathy is an analogous concept that allows people to comprehend and participate in social connections by allowing them to both cognitively and emotionally recognize and experience the mental states of others. While many individuals confuse empathy with compassion, empathy is our capacity to put ourselves in another person’s situation and share that person’s feelings. Empathy is a prerequisite for compassion, but it is insufficient because compassion also calls for motivation and action. Compassion is the desire to take action to alleviate the suffering of others.
Since compassionate behavior toward others are fundamental human values, everyone is born with this disposition. However, this has been made more difficult by the rising individualism of contemporary culture. We all experience emotional agony and suffering at some point when overcoming life’s obstacles. These experiences can occasionally get in the way of our innate compassion, making it harder to put aside arrogance and show empathy. Consider this: experiencing love and compassion for others while still experiencing pain is difficult. We observe several unfavorable effects as a result, including heightened anxiety, despair, and isolation.
The studies shows that by reinforcing our understanding and application of compassion in daily life, we can rebuild our relationships with others, ultimately enhancing our own welfare and community cohesion.
There is broad agreement that adults and children can learn compassion through a range of different interventions, courses, and activities. These include compassion meditation, in which practitioners conceive of themselves in the shoes of others and so learn to feel compassion for them.
With practice, you can improve your capacity for compassion. It is true that developing compassion for oneself and others has been shown to have positive effects on the body and mind and may even increase longevity.
Here are some other benefits such as: stronger immune system, reduced risk of anxiety and depression, reduced stress levels, increased self-esteem, and a more positive attitude on life.
