20 Oct 5 small ways to show compassion
The Dalai Lama has been quoted as saying…
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
There's no doubt that real happiness is NOT the same as selfishness or hedonism; rather, real happiness very much about how we treat and interact with others. And treating them with compassion is directly linked to positive emotions such as happiness and to living a good life.
Accordingly, we're happy to share with you today an article that essentially, makes compassion easy…
by Rebecca Webber from Real Simple
It’s sometimes hard to sympathize with your spouse, much less the cashier who is fumbling with your change. But that’s compassion—caring about another’s suffering and trying to help (even if that means just waiting patiently). Experts, including the vice president of a hospice organization and a prison minister, show how a little love goes a long way.
John Mastrojohn: Lighten a Load
I’ve seen how simple things make such a difference for family caregivers who never get a break: a neighbor going to the grocery store for them or a local teenager shoveling the snow. One hospice volunteer was a beautician, and she would do hair, makeup, and nails for the patients and their families. Folks appreciated it so much. They would say, “I don’t have time to go out of the house to do this.” I remember one time I had just picked up some clothes at the dry cleaner when it started pouring rain. Everything was going to get soaked on my way back to the car, so I stood there, hoping the storm would pass. A stranger came up to me, opened her umbrella, and said, “Can I help you get to your car?” It was a small thing, but I thought, I now have to pay that forward.
John Mastrojohn is the executive vice president of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
Helen Riess: Don’t Judge—Hug
If someone is upset or acting unusual, consider why before you judge or get annoyed. There’s probably a backstory that would make you react differently. And when someone does share, you don’t have to have a perfect answer. You can just say, “I don’t know what to say, but I’m here for you.” Don’t forget the power of touch, especially for children, who thrive on feeling accepted as whole people. Give hugs and pats on the head or a squeeze of the hand. For a stranger who seems open to it, the area between the shoulder and the elbow is considered the safe zone for touching. And you can always simply say, “I want the best for you.”
Helen Riess, M.D., is an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the founder of Empathetics, a company that makes Web-based empathy-training e-learning products. She lives in Wayland, Massachusetts.
Keep reading the full & original article HERE