It feels like we are currently living in a dog-eat-dog world. We are all so worried about ourselves that we fail to look at the bigger picture. It’s almost like we no longer embrace a sense of community. Maybe we lack compassion? The problem is, compassion is a powerful emotion, and it has many benefits.
1 – You Will Be Happier
Showing compassion to others isn’t purely altruistic. When you help someone else, it boosts your own happiness. A study from Harvard showed that donating money can make you happier than using it on yourself.
2 – Makes You More Attractive
Positive personality traits like kindness and compassion have been shown to increase people’s perceptions of attractiveness. People rated headshots more attractive when they were attached to a trait like compassion.
3 – Improves Your Relationships
Being compassionate is a key to solid relationships. Whether romantic or not, people will be more comfortable and receptive to you if you show compassion towards them and others.
4 – Uplifts Your Community
Compassion isn’t just powerful in your direct relationships. It can help uplift the world around you. Compassionate acts have a way of spreading like wildfire. James Fowler examined this phenomenon in a study that showed acts of kindness spread just as easily as bad.
5 – Improves Your Mental Well-Being
Compassion isn’t just about other people. We must practice self-compassion as well. Often, we find it easier to be compassionate towards others, than towards ourselves. Studies have shown that self-compassion is indisputably linked to an individual’s well-being.
6 – Boosts Your Self-Esteem
Compassionate behavior such as donating, volunteering, and helping people in other ways has been shown to increase both academic aspirations and self-esteem among teenagers.
7 – Increases Health and Longevity
Compassion doesn’t just boost teenagers’ self-esteem. It has also been linked to improved mortality rates amongst older volunteers. Compassionate behaviors like volunteering address older people’s individual and societal needs.
8 – Helps You Resolve Conflicts
Life is full of conflict. No matter how much your try to avoid conflict, it is bound to pop up in your life. Compassion can help you address this conflict more effectively. You will find it much easier to put yourself in someone else’s shoes when you can show compassion.
9 – You Become Calmer
When you strive to be a more compassionate person, you will find that you are naturally more patient and get less irritated. You will find it easier to forgive small transgressions, and more issues will roll off your back.
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Actionable Steps
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Do something compassionate for a loved one in your life needs an out-of-the-blue pick-me-up? | Do something compassionate for yourself. When was the last time you did something just for yourself? | Do something compassionate for someone you don’t know. Do you ever volunteer? Do you get involved in social causes? |
