Compassion as a Foundation
In this section you will find the following tools:
Compassion Cultivation
Compassion Cultivation
As we build our capacity for self-compassion, so we also build our capability to feel and express compassion for others in a sustainable way. As we approach generative and courageous conversations with others, about changing systems, cultivating our capacity for compassion is essential. It allows us to be present in conversation and connection with others, in a way that honours each person and each perspective equally. It is a foundational skill to be able to host and progress courageous and system changing conversations and actions.
A Compassionate Response
Science posits that compassion is a natural human instinct that exists in us all and that can be nurtured. Compassion unfolds through a process that starts with presence and awareness of suffering in ourselves or in others. What can then unfold is empathic resonance - a state where we are fully connected emotionally to suffering. For compassion to continue to unfold, we need to move to a desire and motivation to do something to alleviate the suffering, and beyond that an action toward this alleviation.
Where a Compassion Response Breaks Down
Often, compassion responses break down: compassion collapse. This can happen at any stage in the process: we are not aware of our own or another’s suffering; we do not resonate with the suffering emotionally; or we are not move to alleviate the suffering. This collapse can particularly happen when we are dealing with people we have difficulty with, or people who are not like us.
We also live in a world where compassion is often not the normal culture in our societies or organizations. Fears of compassion often get in way. We may feel that showing compassion to others may be seen as weak, or inappropriate. It maybe that we experience discomfort in accepting compassion, or see compassionate acts as manipulation. Dr. Paul Gilbert has developed three fears of compassion scales that you can use to assess your own attitude to compassion: https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/uploads/files/fears-of-compassion-scale.pdf
VIDEO RESOURCES
Mattieu Ricard on Compassion (10 mins). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB2fcZpxBlE
Emiliana Simon-Thomas: on Compassion in the brain (20 mins). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie4htPTeOvA
Thupten Jinpa (3½ mins)http://bigthink.com/videos/thupten-jinpa-on-modern-day-compassion
WEBSITES
Compassion Cultivation Training in BC: http://connectingcompassion.ca
Compassion Institute: https://www.compassioninstitute.com/
Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education: http://ccare.stanford.edu/
ARTICLES
Dacher Keltner. The Compassionate Instinct https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_compassionate_instinct/
Adam Hoffman. When empathy hurts, compassion can heal https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/when_empathy_hurts_compassion_can_heal
BOOKS
Jinpa, T. (2016) A Fearless Heart:How the Courage to be Compassionate can Change your Life