
Empathy and Compassion
Overview
Many people within CC would describe themselves as sensitive or ‘empaths.’
Empathy and compassion are often misunderstood emotions. Some people view these emotions as negative and a drain on their energy while others view empathy and compassion as a gift. This month we will deep dive into empathy and compassion and the impact they can have on ourselves, others, and the collective.
Dictionary.com defines empathy as: “the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another,” and compassion as, “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” Compassion can be thought of as empathy with an added component of action.
How can you offer empathy and compassion while also maintaining personal boundaries to avoid being sapped by another person’s energy? Can we create the intention of getting in tune with another person, without losing oneself in the process?
Cultivating an awareness that the feeling you empathize with is not your own allows you to be compassionate without taking on someone’s lower frequency. You can offer compassionate action—deliver food; offer a kind word, smile, or prayer; or direct light and healing energy to someone in pain—while remaining in a heart-centered space. Aligning with your heart allows you to relate to what another is going through and to offer help without taking it on as your own.
Because we are all connected, expressing empathy and compassion helps raise the vibration of ourselves, others, and the collective.
Discussion Questions
What are various ways you can express empathy and compassion?
How can you protect yourself from taking on other’s emotions and energy when practicing empathy and compassion?
Can we create the intention of getting in tune with another person, without losing oneself in the process?
How do you think judgment—or non-judgment—relates to feelings of empathy and compassion?
What are barriers to expressing empathy and compassion, and how can you overcome these?
Journal:
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