Empathy and Compassion Have My Vote

Posted byLisa at Micro of the MacroPosted inEnvironment, Health & Well-Being, Psychological HealthTags:, , , , , , , , , , , ,

In the time when the world is sick and dying, a tribe of people will come together of many races. They will be a people who put their faith in deeds, not words, and the world shall become green again.  ~Cree Prophecy

Our world is broken.  The political situation in the US and elsewhere since the onset of the pandemic has reinforced that idea to a terrifying extent.  It feels like we’re on a runaway train, with powerful, egocentric politicians and wealthy elitists handling the locomotives in hasty pursuit of even more power and wealth.  By repeatedly denying climate change from their lofty platforms, it is possible to convince folks like us that their unrelenting acts of negligence and devastation of our environment are having little if any impact on our lives.  All too often, as Americans are witnessing now maybe more than ever, the ones in charge with tremendous power and wealth do not model desired qualities such as empathy and compassion.   

NY Times Best Selling Author Glennon Doyle addresses the manner in which our deplorable status quo is maintained in her excellent book Untamed.  Qualities like tenderness, vulnerability, mercy, and empathy are labeled as feminine and therefore discounted, she says; as a result they can be viewed as shameful qualities for men to possess. Due to this centuries-long manipulated belief system, Doyle writes, there is no more messy, world-changing tenderness to deal with. . .  Mercy and empathy are great threats to an unjust society.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.  ~Dalai Lama

According to an article in Psychology Today, empathy is the ability to recognize, understand, and share the thoughts and feelings of another . . .  It is important, the article states, for healthy relationships and compassionate actions, enabling altruistic helping behaviors.  

Dacher Keltner, PhD, Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley, writes about how the empathic behavior of sharing can benefit the giver as much as the receiver, just as the act of forgiveness benefits the one forgiving.  (Check out this article for more on that.) Furthermore, Keltner asserts, when people feel compassion, they start to feel deeply connected to very different groups. In particular, they feel like they are similar to and share a common humanity with people who are really in need, who are really vulnerable.  Owing to the virus and those capitalizing on it since inception, our Earth and the great majority of Her inhabitants are suffering more than ever; what could be more important than empathy and compassion now?

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ~Galatians 6:2

In The Greater Good Magazine, also from UC Berkeley, empathy is referred to as a building block of morality.  Studies show that it reduces bullying, prejudice, racism, and inequality.  Other research shows that it deepens intimacy, promotes health, and can help police officers use less physical force, and feel less distant from the people they’re dealing with.  That could go a long way in easing systemic race issues, don’t you think?

The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.  ~Chief Joseph

Do other animals show empathy?  According to OneKindPlanet.org, separate studies done on elephants, rats, and chimpanzees prove they do.  Grooming, comforting, and protecting seem to be common altruistic behaviors in the animal kingdom.  And, not just for those of their own species.  Animals can be sensitive to the feelings of humans.  (This article shares more on that idea.)  Also, I’ve seen countless photos and video clips on social media of dogs caring for kittens, cats adopting birds, etc.

What about plants?  Empathic-type behaviors are regularly displayed by plants, according to Daniel Chamovitz, director of the Manna Center for Plant Biosciences at Tel Aviv University.  When attacked by bugs, trees release pheromones that cause neighboring plant life to produce chemicals that help them fight the attack.  In addition, roots can communicate to warn of drought so others in their community can prepare.  (For more on how plants benefit other botanicals as well as humans, see this article.)

Christopher Bergland, world-class endurance athlete, coach, author, and political activist, writes that, even for those completely lacking, empathy can in fact be learned.  In this article, he shares a quick loving-kindness meditation to help rewire your brain for empathy and compassion.  In short, each day, take a few minutes to sit quietly and send compassionate thoughts to loved ones, a current adversary, those suffering around the world, and yourself.  Bergland says, by doing this daily, you can sense your brain shift and open up to empathy . . .

On the threshold of a national decision that has potential to further increase the velocity of our collective runaway train, empathy and compassion are pivotal.  My prayer is that these ideas become a driving force with politicians, the wealthy elite, and all the rest of us.  With consistent practice, we can heal the Earth and change the course of humanity, thereby mending our broken world.

When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war . . . So I say to you . . . brothers and sisters, let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide.  ~US Representative John Lewis (recently deceased)

Blessings for Empathy & Compassion,

Lisa

The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.

28 thoughts on “Empathy and Compassion Have My Vote”

  1. Thanks, Lisa, a wonderful post for this moment in time. In the next few days the season will change from autumn to winter; a time to honour our ancestors and for the seeds of our dreams to be nurtured. The quotations you give are highly significant just now. 🙏

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  3. Every time I hear that quote from John Lewis I feel like raising my voice to the rafters. “Let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide”. You are so right. Where we go from here, matters. How we get there is clear. Thanks for a great post.

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  5. Blessed Lisa, My heart swells with the joy of reading your beautiful posts. This post touches the essence of all creation, and the eyes of your soul that can see, feel, and express it as only you do. I love you sweet girl, Betty

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  6. I agree with you that empathy and sensitivity are both looked at as bad qualities for people to have. It’s really sad because a world without both is scary and very cut throat! I’ve been thinking about all of this, in hopes of change too. Thank you, great post!

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  9. EXCELLENT Blog! In addition to the many individuals that you quoted from in this blog, my first thoughts were based upon an individual who I have admired for the majority of my life, St. Francis, who was born in 1182 in Assisi, Italy. Although he was the son of a very, very wealthy cloth merchant and lived his young life as a privileged son, he gave up his wealthy lifestyle to live a life of poverty. It doesn’t matter if an individual is a Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, non-believer, etc…. there is no reason to have this much hatred in the World and more so in our Country. If everyone in OUR COUNTRY alone, would just live by St. Francis’ words, we all could have a beautiful life: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. And it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it’s in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

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  10. deeply meaningful and timely post Lisa … sadly empathy and compassion are not viable for psychopaths … the definition of psychopath is to be lacking these 😦

    and sadly a few of our current leaders are psychopaths … but as we enhance these qualities in ourselves and each other our world will respond accordingly 🙂

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