Compassion
Compassion. It has been on my mind a great deal lately. The world is full of so much suffering. Of course it is also filled with joy, but it's compassion I wish to discuss in this column.
According to Dictionary.com, Compassion is a noun-a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
I found a great article on Compassion, which you can access here.
"The definition of compassion is often confused with that of empathy. Empathy, as defined by researchers, is the visceral or emotional experience of another person’s feelings. It is, in a sense, an automatic mirroring of another’s emotion, like tearing up at a friend’s sadness. Altruism is an action that benefits someone else. It may or may not be accompanied by empathy or compassion, for example in the case of making a donation for tax purposes. Although these terms are related to compassion, they are not identical. Compassion often does, of course, involve an empathic response and an altruistic behavior. However, compassion is defined as the emotional response when perceiving suffering and involves an authentic desire to help".
In order to experience compassion, it is first necessary to be aware of another's suffering, and then feel empathy, and a strong desire to alleviate the suffering by any means available. I think it is safe to say that the vast majority of parents feel great compassion for their offspring. When they do not, and something unspeakable occurs, it makes the headlines. We are shocked and disgusted when this happens.
But many people seem incapable of experiencing compassion for others, as they are so involved with fulfilling their own needs, that they are unable to see or attend to the needs of others. This is tragic.
Others are able to witness the suffering of others but don't feel compassion unless they have something to gain from helping. This is vile.
Some can witness the suffering, and feel compassion, but because they are sharing in the pain, which can be uncomfortable, they feel the need to find an explanation for the suffering, and then place the blame back onto the sufferer, in order to relieve themselves of the pain of their compassion. This is warped.
Others are so sensitive to the suffering around them that they wind up being too depressed to assist in any way. This is useless.
However, I believe that the examples listed above only pertain to a small amount of the human population. I think the vast majority of people do feel compassion. If they see a stray dog on the highway, they stop to get it. If they see a child fall, they would stop to help.
Studies show that compassion is not unique to humans. I swear that my dog can smell it when I am sad. Perhaps you have seen the viral video of the poor little bird that won't leave the side of its injured mate.
It is not surprising that compassion is a natural tendency since it is essential for human survival. By working together and assisting those who need help, we can accomplish so much more than by only promoting our self interests. It feels good to be compassionate. It is also good for our health and the health of others.
One more sign that suggests that compassion is an adaptively evolved trait is that it makes us more attractive to potential mates. A study examining the trait most highly valued in potential romantic partners suggests that both men and women agree that “kindness” is one of the most highly desirable traits.
So, to wrap up, compassion encompasses both empathy and altruism. It is more than feeling empathy, as with genuine compassion, the empathy is combined with action to alleviate the suffering.
I hope you readers will show compassion on this choppy column. I was far too busy being compassionate in order to take the needed time to smooth out the rough edges of this Muse :-)
Recipe:
Bloody Mary Tomato Toast
Click Here for the link to this recipe.
Ingredients:
1 lemon, zested, juiced
1/2 shallot, finely chopped
1 pound grape tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
5 tablespoons finely grated fresh horseradish, divided
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped celery leaves
6 tablespoons mayonnaise
6 slices toasted rye bread
Preparation:
Combine lemon zest, lemon juice, shallot, tomatoes, oil, vinegar, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, and 1 Tbsp. horseradish in a large bowl. Let marinate 10 minutes, then stir in celery stalks and leaves.
Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise and remaining 4 Tbsp. horseradish in a small bowl. Spread 1 Tbsp. horseradish-mayonnaise on each slice of rye. Top toasts evenly with tomato mixture.
