What does it mean to be compassionate?

First Published 26 January 2023

I’m currently working my way through Mindfulness teacher training (so watch this space for meditation sessions both group and one to one being available soon!).  A large chunk of this week’s training has covered the topic of compassion.

But what does it mean?

When we look at compassion towards others, it’s about curiosity, kindness and respect – with no judgement (as well as a few more aspects). 

When we are compassionate towards others we get some huge benefits!  We release oxytocin and our heart rate lowers.  It can feel like going in to protection mode for someone else and can be seen as a desire to relieve suffering.

When it comes to compassion, it can be easier to be compassionate towards others and not so easy to look at self-compassion – yet both are important.  Remember the ‘put on your own oxygen mask before helping others’ – if we run out of oxygen we can’t look after anyone else!

“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”

~Jack Kornfield

Self-compassion can remind us that we aren’t perfect.  We can’t do it all and sometimes we need support, or space alone with our thoughts.

If you are struggling with being compassionate towards yourself, please take some time to work on accepting where you are in your life’s journey right now. 

The only things we can control are the way we think and the way we react.  So work towards accepting everything else.  It’s only through acceptance can we then begin to change our reality.  

And if you want to implement change, don’t go it alone – tell someone, don’t hide, and then take that first (potentially scary) step towards the future you want.

If you feel the need for a natter, the zoffee link is open as usual!