What is Compassion?
Compassion involves recognizing suffering, whether in ourselves or in others, together with a motivation to to help alleviate that suffering.
Compassion therefore involves more than simply noticing that someone is struggling. It includes:
Awareness of suffering
Motivation to respond
Compassion can arise in response to physical or emotional suffering, difficult life circumstances, or other forms of distress.
Compassion v.s. Empathy
Compassion and empathy are related but are not identical.
Empathy refers to the capacity to understand or share another person's emotional experience.
Compassion involves an additional motivational component—the desire to respond to suffering in a helpful way.
For example, we may empathically recognize that someone is experiencing pain, while compassion motivates us to offer support.
Compassion for Self and Others
Compassion can be directed toward ourselves, other human beings, animals, and nature.
Self-compassion involves responding to our own difficulties with kindness, understanding, and awareness rather than excessive self-criticism.
Compassion for others involves responding to the suffering of others with kindness. Compassion for others plays an important role in relationships. It can encourage supportive communication, understanding, cooperation, and social connection.
Mindfulness and Compassion
Mindfulness and compassion are closely related but distinct capacities.
Mindfulness helps us become more in tune with our experiences, including suffering.
Compassion brings an attitude of care toward suffering, and a motivation to respond.
Combining Mindfulness and Compassion
Mindfulness can help us become aware of suffering, while compassion can guide how we respond to what we notice.
Together, they can support more caring and balanced relationships with ourselves and others.