Institutional Course 2 (Compassion) do what you can to make the

situation better.
Compassion B. Self Compassion
Module 1: Introduction to Compassion a. This involves treating
yourself with the same
What is Compassion? compassion and kindness that
● Compassion involves feeling another you would show to others.
person’s pain and wanting to take Rather than beating yourself
steps to help relieve their suffering. up over mistakes you may
The word Compassion itself derives have made in the past, you
from Latin and means “to suffer feel understanding, mindful,
together” and accepting of yourself and
your imperfections.
Signs of Compassion
● Feeling like you have a great deal in How to Practice Compassion
common with other people, even if ● Speak with kindness
you are very different in many ways. ● Apologize when you’ve made a
● Being able to understand what other mistake
people are going through and feeling ● Listen carefully and without
their pain. judgment
● Being mindful of other people’s ● Encourage other people
emotions, thoughts, and experiences. ● Offer to help someone with a task
● Acting when you see that someone ● Be happy for someone else’s success
else is suffering. ● Accept people for who they are
● Having a high level of emotional ● Forgive people for making mistakes
intelligence so that you are able to ● Show respect
understand, manage, and act on your ● Express gratitude and appreciation
own emotions as well as the ● Be patient
emotions of others.
● Feeling gratitude when other people Impact of Compassion
express compassion for your own ● Giving feels good
hardships. ○ One of the reasons why
compassion can be so
Types of Compassion effective is that both giving
A. Compassion for Others and receiving can improve
a. When you experience other your psychological
people, you feel their pain well-being. Being the
and want to find a way to recipient of compassion can
relieve their suffering. These help you get the support you
feelings compel you to act to need to carry you through a
 difficult time. For example, ● Compassion improves
researchers have found that Relationships
giving money to others who ○ Compassion can also help
need it actually produces you build the social support
greater happiness rewards and connections that are
than spending it on ourselves. important for mental
well-being. It can also protect
● Compassionate people live longer your interpersonal
○ Engaging in activities such as relationships. Research
volunteering to help those suggests that compassion is a
you feel compassion for can key predictor of the success
improve your longevity. One and satisfaction of
study found that people who relationships.
volunteer out of concern for
others tend to live longer than How to be more Compassionate
people who do not volunteer. A. Bring your attention to the
Situation
● Compassion contributes to a life of a. The first component of
purpose compassion is to become
○ One study found that the more aware of what other
happiness that comes from people are experiencing.
living a life of purpose and Imagine yourself in their
meaning - one that is fueled shoes. Being able to see
by kindness and compassion - things from another person's
can play a role in better perspective can help you gain
health. In the study, a sense of compassion for
participants who experienced their situation. Practice
what is known as eudaimonic putting yourself in someone
happiness - or the kind of else’s place and imagine how
happiness that comes from you might feel. Focus on
living a meaningful life that feeling how they might be
involves helping others - feeling.
experienced lower levels of
depression, stronger B. Let go of Judgment
immunity and less a. Accepting people as they are
inflammation. and avoiding judgment is
important. Focus on
accepting people for who
they are without criticizing or
blaming the victim.
C. Practice Mindfulness
a. Mindfulness is a practice of
focusing on the present,
becoming more aware of
your own thoughts without
judging them. Research
suggests that mindfulness -
based interventions can be
effective for improving
self-compassion.

D. Try loving-kindness meditation