Do You Consider Yourself to be Compassionate?

It can be difficult to understand what being compassionate really means and what it feels like. Of course you feel sorry for someone when they get hurt or become sick, unlike the feeling when someone lands on bankrupt on Wheel of Fortune. But being compassionate means doing a little more than just ‘feeling’ something.

People who are known to be compassionate follow through on the way they feel about a particular situation. This can be seen when someone decides to go all out and raise money for a certain cause or charity. While we see many celebrities do this, numerous other people do the same thing and start working with an organization.

You may have seen someone walking across part of the country to raise money for cancer or another foundation. They are doing this because they are compassionate about the cause. This could be because they were directly impacted by a situation or disease. Maybe a loved one was diagnosed with a disease or didn’t survive their battle with cancer and this is their way of showing compassion for others going through the same situation, or their way to raise awareness.

While these examples could be seen on the more extreme side, there are other ways to show compassion. In fact, numerous employers are helping their employees by showing compassion.

With so many families having both parents work, things like daycare can be difficult to find and can be expensive. Some employers now offer daycare on their premises. This allows the parents to drop off their children without driving across town. Plus it means that they can visit their child on their lunch break or be available if they suddenly get sick.

As you can see from this example showing compassion is not that difficult. The next time someone you care about gets sick, instead of just saying sorry or hoping that they get better soon, see if there is something physical that you could do for them. Perhaps you could make them a meal or run some errands for them.

This might include picking up a few groceries for them or even contacting a long distance relative for them. When you are doing this, you are showing the person that you really do care about their situation and actually take some type of action to help them.

The same applies in your business. If your customer or client is having an issue, see if there is a way you can help them out. They may be stuck with something that you find easy to do, so why not offer to help them through it? Your act of kindness will certainly not go un-noticed.

 Recently, a friend told me he didn't know how he would have managed after his mother passed if not for the help of his church family. I feel the same way, both after my open-heart surgery and this past spring when I broke my ankle. If not for my church family, I don't know how I would have survived.

What are some ways that you show compassion? Do you extend  kind gestures, listen patiently, or encourage others? 

It's also important to show yourself compassion. There are self-care practices that you should include in your daily life: praise and celebrate yourself for your WINS, forgive yourself for your mistakes, and focus on your strengths and positive qualities.

Being compassionate should start with yourself and extend to others. But it's important to consider healthy boundaries and privacy. Being a compassionate person shouldn't cause you any stress or heartache.

I am so grateful to all those that have been compassionate towards me over the years; the acts of kindness have taught me what kindness is and how wonderful it is to practice random acts of kindness.

Be compassionate...be thoughtful and know that you are making a difference!

Cheers!

Lisa

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