When the word compassion is mentioned, who are some people that immediately pop in to your mind?
Do you envision Gandhi, walking through the crowds and handing out advice? Does Mother Theresa
come to your mind, as she used to bend over the sick and the poor and offer words of comfort to them?
There are a lot of other less recognized people who also dealt with people who needed compassion and
they have some nice quotes that could help you deal with a situation.

Some quotes from Mother Theresa include:

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”

“People who love each other fully and truly are the happiest people in the world. They may have little,
they may have nothing, but they are happy people. Everything depends on how we love one another.”

One of her most telling quotes she repeated often: “The poor do not need our sympathy and our pity.
The poor need our love and compassion.”

Compassion is in everyone. Mother Theresa encouraged others to be like her and to dig down deep and
find it.

Gandhi also spoke to crowds on a regular basis and offered words of wisdom to other who needed to
hear them. Some of his famous quotes include:

“Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change
our world.”

His most famous words probably include the quote, “We need to be the change we wish to see in the
world.”

There are also a lot of quotes uttered by lesser known people about compassion that are just as
important. Hearing the quotes sometimes makes us remember what it is we need to instead of what we
are really doing. The Dalai Lama said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want
to be happy, practice compassion.”

Thomas Merton once said, “The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the
interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one
another.”

No matter which quote you like best, try practicing it and see if it makes a difference in your life.

It isn’t very often when there are stories of compassion on the news. The most popular stories seem to
be ones of horrific accidents, natural disasters and other times when there is a loss of life. So when a
positive story of compassion comes out in the news, it usually catches a lot of people’s attention. People
like to hear good news and see good things by other people. It shouldn’t be so hard to find stories where
people are acting in compassionate ways, but unfortunately, there are days where it is.

Some recent stories of compassion include children helping other children after a natural disaster. The
tsunami of Japan wiped out a lot of homes and businesses, but it also destroyed supplies for non-profit
groups. The Boy Scouts of Japan were affected and lost a lot of their books, camping equipment and
materials related to being Boy Scouts. Some troops in the United States and even from around the world
saw their plight and decided to help out in ways to make a difference. They took up collections at pack
meeting and held fundraisers. They sent money donations so the boys could buy new items and donated
their unused items so that the Boy Scouts could continue on with meetings and activities, even though a
lot of things around them had been destroyed.

Another instance of compassion came during Hurricane Katrina. Pets are not allowed in to shelters, so
since many people had to leave their homes, cats and dogs were left behind to fend for themselves.
People who had the space in rural areas or even extra space in a current shelter took in these animals
so that they had a safe place to stay until their owners came back. Taking in pets and providing food and
shelter is just as important as it is to provide it to that of a person who is in need. The owners and pets
were reunited after the water levels went down and everyone was happy.

There are a lot of symbols that can represent compassion. For example, when one thinks of compassion
they might think of a dove or an olive branch. Compassion and peace are very similar topics, so the
symbols for peace are sometimes intertwined with that of peace. Or compassion might make you think
of a person, such as the Dalai Lama or Mother Theresa, who both devoted their lives to aiding others.
No matter what your definition of compassion is, there will be some type of symbol that makes you
think of it.

The church is often a symbol of compassion, simply because of the many ministries they carry out
towards other people and groups. They often foster organizations that provide for the hungry and
homeless in their region and in places outside of their country. Churches also provides funds for people
who go out to the world and have dedicated their lives to providing for a need that people have, no
matter where they are in the world. These people are called missionaries and always represent a specific
mission.

Symbols of compassion might also include an object that is often used in an act of compassion. For
example, if there is a weekly collection taken at a church where the money is given to a charity, the
collection plate might become a symbol. Only money for others is placed in there, so it can be viewed as
a symbol of ways that can help others.

Other symbols that might not be universally known include logos of organizations. These organizations
could feed people, clothe them, provide care for animals or even basic supplies to areas that are
ravaged by war. The logos might be a symbol of compassion to people of one nation, while others don’t
even know what it means. Some symbols could include the Red Cross logo, the Doctors Without Borders
logo or even the United Nations logo. No matter what symbol reminds you of compassion, let it be a
reminder that you are the change that can make the world happier.

There are a lot of synonyms for the word compassion. And some of those synonyms aren’t even words,
but people! Mother Theresa is one person who spent her life caring for those who had diseases and
lived in poverty stricken areas around the world. Her actions and life devoted to those people are what
many consider to be true compassion. She cared for them and did not judge or scold, but simply prayed
with them, held their hands and even walked with them and talked about their conditions and how to
improve them.

Other true synonyms for the word compassion are many. They most include ideas that revolve around
caring for others and showing that you are listening and hearing what people say and want to find ways
to improve a situation. The list of synonyms includes: charity, humanity, kindness, softheartedness,
tenderness, benevolence and feeling. These are all ways in which a person feels towards another person
or even an animal who is facing a disease or a harsh lifestyle that could be improved.

Synonyms that might not be obvious but are associated with compassion include sorrow, condolences,
commiseration, sympathy and clemency. But when one stops to think about it, in order to feel what
another person is feeling, you have to also experience these emotions or virtues in order to grasp how
the other person is feeling.

The definition of compassion includes the words sympathy, empathy and sorrow, therefore, words that
are both happy and sad are associated with it. If one cannot feel sad towards another person’s situation,
would they really care to take the time to try and correct it? Compassion includes having the ability
to feel a connection towards another person and wish and hope and act out in ways that will improve
the condition that is affecting them and making you feel that way. Compassion is a complex virtue that
encompasses a lot of different feelings and emotions as one travels through life.

There are a lot of words thrown around and used in certain circles that you might think are being used
correctly, but maybe they aren’t. For example, when peace is mentioned, does it reference countries
that are at peace or peace within a person? Compassion is also a word that can easily get confused by
the meaning, simply because people don’t understand what it entails.

The definition of compassion is this: a feeling of empathy and sympathy for a person or an animal who is
suffering.

What is your first reaction when you see a homeless person sitting on the side of the road, holding a sign
that says will work for food? Is compassion the first thing that comes to mind or is it another feeling,
such as anger or disgust? Many people don’t trust that the person is really homeless and desperate for a
bit of money in order to get something to eat. However, it takes a lot of humility to actually make a sign
and have to beg someone else for food.

Compassion towards the homeless person would encompass a few thoughts. A person might try and
quickly think how they can change the situation for the homeless person. Maybe handing over a couple
dollars is enough to make you feel better. Or maybe instead of handing over money, you drive to a
restaurant and get a meal and deliver it directly. Both show sympathy and empathy, since you are trying
to change their situation, even if it is only for the short term.

People who have compassion for others have usually been taught how to feel that way. Maybe it came
from attending food pantries and working at soup kitchens where you got to see the suffering up close
and understand that anyone can be out of a job and end up suffering. Compassion is a virtue that would
make the world a more understanding place, for any condition, that affects people and their abilities to
provide for a normal life.

Thank you `3rd-Eden!

. =)

Overdosing on Serotonin

Ever heard about the effects of kindness on your brain? It goes something like this:

Serotonin makes you feel good. It’s one of the drugs the pharmaceutical companies pump into those wonderful little antidepressants. It’s also a little drug God decided to pump through our brains when we do things He/She/It likes—kinda like a little reward for good behavior.

Here’s what’s cool: When you do something kind for someone, the person you’re helping has serotonin released in her brain—she feels happier. And, so do you.

Pretty sweet, eh? Two more serotonin-induced happier people in the world! Yayuh!

Perhaps the most incredible thing is this: Not only do you and the person you helped feel better, so does some random person who happened to watch your act of kindness. That’s amazing.

So, uh, how ’bout a little serotonin overdose today?!

 

Dos

• If you write them, tell them to not bother writing you back
• Keep your visits minimal – 20 minutes max – and clean up the place while you’re there
• Offer some Gossip
• Say “I love you”

Don’ts

• Do not Ask What can I do to help? This is often shallow
• Do not Say, “My thoughts and prayers are with you” – this is also cliche
• Do not Bug them about other alternative cures that you think they should try
• Do not baby them, saying “How are we today?” Treat them like an adult (assuming they are teenage or adult-age!) Think of how you would have liked to be treated when you were a kid… probably as an adult, too.
• Do not promise everything will be ok – it’s a lie and you do not know that
• Do not say “Everything happens for a reason”
• Do not tell them they look great, they will know it is a lie and it will actually hurt more

Read the article, it’s great.  I hope this helps with listening on CompassionPit

Yes, M.I.A. sampled this song when she made Paper Planes. Just remember not to be “MIA” – Missing In Action – for the people in your life. We all need each other.

Check it out: http://www.CompassionPit.com/forum/!