How to be Compassionate

CEBU, Philippines - Being compassionate means being able to fully understand – even to feel – how others feel. And this beautiful trait can be developed in you. The website www.codeofliving.com shares how:

Consider similarities. It’s so important to create similarities between yourself and the people you meet. For example, if you’re a student and the person you’re talking to is also a student, mentally make that connection between yourselves by reflecting and understanding that both of you are going through similar struggles and that your day-to-day lives are very similar. You can than go deeper and deeper, thinking of more parallels and you will just build compassion between the both of you.

Follow The Golden Rule. "Treat others as you would want to be treated." This is probably the most cliché statement of all time; but honestly speaking, compassion is built on this statement. If you treat others like how you want to be treated, you will be showing a good example of compassion.

Flip your perspective. You love yourself the most and only by putting yourself in the place of the other person can you feel compassion for them. So whenever you meet somebody or see some person struggling, try to put yourself in the other person’s position. The change in perspective will not just help you understand what the person needs, but it will also help you feel true compassion for him.

Be fully involved and aware. Compassion is something which comes from  the heart and soul. Why do you think true compassion can never be faked? Try to be fully involved with the other person and focus on the smallest of things that are unique to the person. This way rather than feeling a general feeling of compassion for everybody in the person’s situation, you will be able to directly relate with him or her and do your best to help them.

Learn to appreciate. Compassion is formed through a comparison in your head between the person who is suffering and yourself. If you feel how much more blessed you are, you will feel that you are better off than the person in distress and will automatically feel compassion for him or her.

(www.codeofliving.com)