What is Compassion?
Compassion enables kindness and is crucial in maintaining and building social relationships and developing social awareness. Though compassion is closely linked with empathy (to feel for another), compassion is the desire to act to prevent other people’s suffering when confronted by it.
Compassion enables loving behavior, is fundamental in building social connections, and improves relationships between children and parents. People with healthy, compassionate relationships live longer, are healthier, and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors, including substance use.
Did You Know? Compassion for others starts with self-compassion: to avoid self-criticism and treat ourselves kindly.
“Compassion is an essential part of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).”
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