You are touched by the suffering of another unfortunate person. You feel compassion and want to help relieve their pain. Your goal is to see them safe and secure.

Definitions

1. Understating the suffering of another and wanting to help,
2. Displeased about an event undesirable for another
3. Relieving the suffering of others.

Related Terms

Terms that are somewhat related, but not precise synonyms for compassion are: sympathy, pity, feeling sorry for, and empathy.

Origins and Importance

Compassion encourages us to help the unfortunate. It motivates us to prevent harm to others. Our compassion continues until the unfortunate person is safe, or we can do nothing more to help them. Compassion strengthens the community.

References

[laz] Passion and Reason: Making Sense of Our Emotions by Richard S. Lazarus, Bernice N. Lazarus

[Ekm] Emotions Revealed : Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life by Paul Ekman

[OCC] The Cognitive Structure of Emotions by Andrew Ortony, Gerald L. Clore, Allan Collins

[Gol] Destructive Emotions : A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama by Daniel Goleman

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Create Your Life, Your Relationships, and Your World in Harmony with Your Values, by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Arun Gandhi