10 Ways to Show Compassion

Deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it.

noun. /kəmˈpæʃn/ /kəmˈpæʃn/ [uncountable] ​compassion (for somebody) a strong feeling of sympathy for people or animals who are suffering and a desire to help them.

noun. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Compassionate comes from the Old French noun compassion, which means “sympathy, pity.” The adjective, pronounced “cuhm-PASH-uh-nuht,” means “sympathetic,” like a compassionate friend who shares in your joys and sadnesses, wanting the best for you.

• Open the door for someone.
• Motivate others.
• Practice acts of kindness.
• Allocate time to bond with friends and family.
• Say encouraging words.
• Share a hug or a handshake.
• Incorporate the phrase “thank you” into your daily routine.
• Offer to help someone with their to-do list.

The definition of compassion, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is the “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” And the New Oxford American Dictionary defines compassion as “a sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”

An act of compassion is defined by its helpfulness. Qualities of compassion are patience and wisdom; kindness and perseverance; warmth and resolve. It is often, though not inevitably, the key component in what manifests in the social context as altruism.

Empathy is our feeling of awareness toward other people’s emotions and an attempt to understand how they feel. Compassion definition. Compassion is an emotional response to symapthy and creates a desire to help.

It’s the compassion or forgiveness shown to someone. But mercy is a noun in action. The meaning of compassion is to recognize the suffering of others and then take action to help. Compassion is more than feeling concerned about someone in distress or caring about a person’s misfortune.

Red crosses are a symbol of mercy.

10 Ways of Showing Compassion

1. START WITH YOURSELF. The best way to learn how to be compassionate toward others is to be compassionate with yourself.
2. COMMUNICATE VERBALLY AND NONVERBALLY.
3. TOUCH (IF APPROPRIATE)
4. ENCOURAGE OTHERS.
5. EXPRESS YOURSELF.
6. SHOW KINDNESS.
7. RESPECT PRIVACY.
8. LEARN HOW TO ADVOCATE.

For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. — Psalm 86:15. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.

Compassion literally means “to suffer together.” Among emotion researchers, it is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering.

9 Ways to Show Compassion

1. Be a Good Listener. One of the best ways to show our compassion is to listen.
2. Be Empathetic. There is a difference between being sympathetic and empathetic.
3. Be an Advocate. The Bible calls us to be an advocate for the downtrodden.
4. Be a Volunteer.
5. Be Private.
6. Be a Giver.
7. Be Aware.
8. Be Kind.

Compassion gives us the ability to understand someone else’s situation and the desire to take action to improve their lives. For people who are dependent on others for help and support, compassion is often the most important factor in allowing them to lead fulfilling lives.

Compassion is what arises when witnessing another’s suffering that motivates a subsequent desire to help. As you will discover, compassion brings together many skills ranging from awareness, empathy, and distress tolerance, to courage, intention, strength and persistence.

Six Habits of Highly Compassionate People

1. Bringing attention or awareness to recognizing that there is suffering (cognitive)
2. Feeling emotionally moved by that suffering (affective)
3. Wishing there to be relief from that suffering (intentional)
4. A readiness to take action to relieve that suffering (motivational)

Teaching children what compassion means is simple. It’s defined as the desire to help someone who’s in distress. Compassion, in other words, is a feeling and an act, and the best way to teach it is to put it into action.

8 Activities and Exercises to Cultivate Compassion in Children

1. Volunteer at a homeless shelter or at an animal shelter.
2. Read books with compassion themes.
3. Discuss suffering.
4. Ask children who they would want to help in the world.
5. Read about helpers.
6. Teach them self-compassion.
7. Model, Model, Model.

There are several steps parents can take to improve their child’s social skills.

1. Follow Their Interests. Enjoying others will come more naturally when a child is doing something they are genuinely interested in.
2. Learn to Ask Questions.
3. Practice Role Playing.
4. Teach Empathy.
5. Know Your Child’s Limits.
6. Be a Good Role Model.

Here’s 10 ways to teach your children how to be humble.

1. Modeling.
2. Build them up.
3. Encourage and help them to be the very best they can be—no matter what they do.
4. Make sure they understand where their real value comes from.
5. Never humiliate your kids.
6. Expose your child to the great teachers and their stories.

The development of empathy tends to naturally happen as children get older due to a combination of biology and learned experiences. Many experts report that you cannot expect young children under 5 to show empathy due to their stage of development and lack of lived experience.

10 Ways to teach kids to be self-less in a self-centered world

1. Be an example. You must be an example of kindness if you want your kids to be kind to others.
2. Help them understand WHY we do what we do. I tell our kids why I volunteer and how it helps others.
3. Reward kindness.
4. Model Integrity.

The four types of humility. (2016)

• Natural humility.
• Humbled humility.
• Contrived humility.
• Intentional humility.

To walk in humility with God, we remind ourselves we are followers. We don’t initiate or design the way, we follow it. We don’t continue to “turn our own way” as the prophet Isaiah warned us we are prone to do. Instead, we turn in repentance and faith to follow Jesus.

I respect you as a human. I hope to be as selfless as you! I love how humble you stay. I follow your example of how to be a good friend. More people should follow your lead!

Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful. Having or showing a consciousness of one’s defects or shortcomings; not overly proud; not self-assertive; modest.

Ten Characteristics of a Humble Person

• A humble person is teachable.
• A humble person is at peace with themselves and others.
• A humble person is grateful.
• A humble person is slow to offend and quick to forgive.
• A humble person asks for help.
• A humble person treats everybody with respect.

Humble people are still self-efficacious; they just don’t feel the impetus to boast about themselves but instead, let their actions speak for their ideals. To be humble is not to think less of oneself, but to think of oneself less.

Humble people resist the urge of always wanting to be right. They’re willing to admit error when they are wrong, they allow others to save face when they’re right, and they don’t take things personally. They are masters of letting go and moving on. This is their secret to enjoying life.