Cheryl Wright

Compassion

“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.”    -Steve Maraboli

C is for Compassion

When someone is suffering or dealing with misfortune do you want to lend a helping hand or feel that person should just deal with it on their own?  Compassion is an emotion that we feel when we not only have a feeling of deep sympathy for someone but we also have a desire to help.  Research has shown that when we are feeling compassionate our heart rate slows down and we secrete oxytocin which is a powerful bonding hormone. When this happens our brain prompts us to develop a feeling of sympathy for another person who has been harmed somehow by misfortune. It also makes us want to reduce or alleviate their suffering.  I believe that in order to be compassionate to others we must first be compassionate to ourselves.  I think that compassionate people make better parents and friends.  Those who are compassionate are less vindictive toward others.  I also believe that animals have the ability to be compassionate.

How compassionate are you?  Take this quiz to find out.

http://www.blogthings.com/howcompassionateareyouquiz/

Synonym of compassion – concern
Antonym of compassion – coldness

Other Blogging From A-to-Z Challenge Posts 2014 (Emotions)
Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal 2014

A is for Anger
B is for Bliss
C is for Compassion
D is for Deceit
E is for Envy
F is for Fear
G is for Grief
H is for Hurt
I is for Insecurity
J is for Jilted
K is for Kindness
L is for Love and Loss (of a pet)
M is for Melancholy
N is for Nervousness
O is for Optimism
P is for Pride
Q is for Quizzical
R is for Resentment
S is for Sadness
T is for Thankfulness
U is for Unfeeling
V is for Victimization (emotional)
W is for Worry
X is for XOXO
Y is for Yearning
Z is for Zeal

*This blog post contains affiliate links.

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Published by Cheryl Wright

Also known as Ms57Classic I came into this world on a summer morning on July 22, 1957. Newborn babies usually do not cry real tears at birth because their tear ducts have not formed yet. But I cried real tears! I have been through many things in my life and have dealt with a multitude of situations and emotions. I have been married and divorced twice. I am an ex-navy wife. I am a mom, a Grammie of 8 (so far), a sister, an aunt, and a friend of longevity. I have a son and a son-in-law in the US Navy and am very proud of their job decision and their accomplishments. My job as a mother is FOREVER. It will not stop when a child of mine reaches the age of 18! I have always been well liked, but not liked by all. I can stretch a dollar like it’s a rubber band. I like the person I am. I graduated from a writing school. I am in the process of writing a book. I graduated from University of Phoenix at the age of 56 with an associate’s degree in Art. I am disabled, having a multitude of health issues. I had a corneal transplant and since then have become an advocate for organ and tissue donation. One of my hobbies is finding those who share the exact birthday as me – July 22, 1957. There is much more ABOUT ME but I guess you will have to follow my blog if you’d like to find these things out : )

59 comments

  1. What a fun little quiz! Compassion is really important in our relationships with others. Sometimes I find myself wishing others would be more compassionate with me (although I can’t change how they are acting).

    Reply

    • Unfortunately there are some people who are not very compassionate. You are right we can’t change how they act. We are only responsible for our own actions.

      Reply

  2. Lovely post. Would have liked to have taken the test, but with so many blogs to visit, there isn’t the time.
    All the best A to Z’ing. 🙂

    Reply

    • I didn’t realize how time consuming this challenge can be! This is my first year participating. I think I spend more time checking out blogs, commenting, liking, following, ect than I do actually writing my own posts…I never realized there were so many wonderful, talented bloggers. So glad that I decided to participate! Thank you for visiting my blog.

      Reply

  3. Really lovely post and I did the quiz apparently I have lots of compassion hehe which is good. I think it’s an under appreciated emotion and yes I wholly believe some animals can show compassion I’ve seen it with elephants one had it’s leg blown off and a group of other elephants would support it as it lowered to get in the water x

    Reply

    • Thank you for sharing the elephant story. That’s amazing! I have lots of compassion too….sometimes it can be a bad thing though! People tend to take advantage of compassionate people more often than those who are less compassionate. What do you think?

      Reply

      • Oh I agree entirely people always take advantage of those with the softer more positive emotions it’s the not so nice side of human nature that does that as a means to our own ends x

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  4. My dog has more love and compassion than any person could have. Thanks for visting “Things My Husband Has Broken” A to Z.
    AMomsPointOfView.com

    Reply

  7. We can all use a little more compassion for others in our lives. It’s so easy to go through life with our blinders on to the hurt of others. It’s much harder to open our hearts to others, but so worthwhile.

    Reply

  8. I did the test and it says I have lots of compassion. I knew that anyway. Here’s what it said about me. “You are a naturally empathetic and caring person. Other people matter to you, and it shows.

    You celebrate your friends’ successes and sympathize when they run into trouble.

    You have a strong sense of justice, and you want to protect everyone who’s been treated unfairly.

    It’s hard for you to judge someone unless you’ve walked a mile in his or her shoes. You give people the benefit of the doubt.”

    Cool, huh? Thanks for sharing! Peace

    Reply

    • Hi Jeanne! Glad that you enjoyed the quiz. I thought it would be fun to add it to post. I’m also a person with lots of compassion. Good luck with the A to Z Challenge!

      Reply

  9. Wow, this is great. The way you described it made me think about the compassion in my own life and understand its motivation better. I feel like I can better duplicate it now with myself 🙂

    Reply

  10. Naturally empathic me! Can’t help myself.. Drives me mad sometimes.. Lovely posts. Glad I’m finding others writing about aspects of humanity which will help me with my writing. Thanks for popping by and very happy to have met you.

    Reply

    • That must have been a hard job! You have to have compassion to work with people.I have always been told I should have been a social worker. But I don’t think I would have been able to disconnect work from my private life.

      Reply

    • I happened to come across the information of slow heart rate and release of oxytocin when I was doing some research for this post. Thank you for reading my post and commenting. Good luck with the A to Z Challenge.

      Reply

  13. Lots of compassion here, unfortunately, I have been battling compassion fatigue lately (slight improvement recently). It is a rough road, but hopefully more people will be aware and be able to help others that need it. People that are highly compassionate rarely seek out assistance for their compassion fatigue, because they do not want to burden others or they don’t understand what is happening. Thanks for a wonderful post!

    Reply

    • I can understand how a person can become compassion fatigued! When you are overly compassionate you can sometimes try to take the weight of the whole world on your shoulders. I’ve been told by a long time friend several times that I can’t save the world…doesn’t stop me from trying though.

      Reply

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