“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”—The Dalai Lama
Compassion, which means “co-suffering”, is a positive emotion that allows people to show that they care and are willing to help. Practicing and showing compassion has the ability to spread harmony in any environment, making it ideal for the workplace. In psychology, compassion is considered as more of an action instead of an emotion. Combining care, empathy, and love, being compassionate helps alleviate the suffering of others.
Benefits of compassion in workplace
First of all, managers often mistakenly think that putting pressure on employees will increase performance. What it does increase is stress. 52% of employees have report that workplace stress has led them to look for a new job, decline a promotion, or leave a job and research has also shown that high levels of stress carry a number of costs to employers and employees alike. I found out that when leaders were fair and self-sacrificing, their employees would experience elevation.
It is important to also note that focusing on workplace compassion encourages healthy interpersonal relationships. It allows people to recognize and appreciate others sincerely, and work to benefit the organization instead of just oneself. Being compassionate with colleagues doesn’t just affect both parties, but also has a positive impact on the performance culture in general. As a consequence, they felt more loyal and committed and were more likely to act in a helpful and friendly way with other employees for no particular reason. In other words, if a manager is service-oriented and ethical, he is more likely to make his employees follow suit and to increase their commitment to him or her. Furthermore, workplace compassion also promotes employee engagement, dedication, and loyalty. Employees who work together with compassion are more likely to cooperate and help each other out.
I strongly believe that when organizations promote an ethic of compassion rather than a culture of stress, they may not only see a happier workplace but also an improved bottom line.
Despite the above points, managers may shy away from compassion for fear of appearing weak. Yet history is filed with leaders who were highly compassionate and very powerful—Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, and to name a few. They were such strong and inspiring leaders that people would drop everything to follow them. Wouldn’t any manager wish for that kind of loyalty and commitment?

To sum it up, the point that compassion plays a vital role in all fields cannot be overemphasize; in our medical field we need more of compassionate Drs and nurses because compassion has the power to increase healing and coping in our patients.

Compassion is an essential element in society and is vital to the survival of the human race. Individuals and groups with power (i.e., police, policymakers, politicians, etc.) have an opportunity to contribute to more healthy, peaceful communities by practicing and promoting compassion.
By remembering history— including where compassion was both lacking and in abundance— human beings will be more empowered to make compassionate and meaningful life choices. This is the first step toward creating the the loving and peaceful society imagined by so many of us.

Imagine a world without the countless individuals who risked their own lives to save others during wartime. Imagine a world without those who’ve run into burning buildings or executed other heroic feats of rescue during times of trauma. It’s unthinkable.

Benefits of Compassion
A. The combination of self-compassion and optimism is beneficial for depression-vulnerable people.
B. Self-compassion is linked to various aspects of general well-being and it buffers the negative impact of stress
C. Compassion is related to increased happiness and it also related to higher levels of well-being
D. Self-compassion has a number of proven psychological benefits, such as reduced PTSD symptom severity and lower levels of psychopathology in general.
E. Compassion promotes social connection among adults and children. Social connection is important to adaptive human functioning, as it is related to increased self-esteem, empathy, well-being; and higher interpersonal orientation
F. Compassion within classrooms is related to increased cooperation and better learning, teach your kids and students compassion in school and at home just the same way you teach them about religion.
What can I do to be more compassionate?
Be altruistic; We can be more compassionate by moving beyond our comfort zones and helping individuals or engaging in service work as a way of helping people, animals, and our communities. Altruistic behaviors also improve the self-esteem and well-being of those who offer them.

Avoid judgment; It is impossible to know the factors that have led a person toward their current predicament; nor how we would fare in the same situation. Considering our own similarities to others in need will help to promote empathy and compassion.

Practice gratitude;Reflecting on the things in your life that you appreciate will foster a sense of compassion for those less fortunate.
Be kind to yourself; Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Remember that all human beings are flawed and will make mistakes; ongoing rumination and self-loathing serves no benefit to you or anyone around you. Instead, practice self-forgiveness and coping tools that will help you to move forward in a more positive way.

Self Compassion.
Self-compassion is different than self-esteem. Self-esteem depends on our accomplishments and on others’opinions of us. However, self-compassion involves a consistent attitude of acceptance and kindness toward ourselves, no matter what.To practice self-compassion, begin by noticing how you talk to yourself. If you notice that your thoughts are usually critical, negative, or judging, examine how you can shift them. Imagine speaking to yourself as you would speak to someone you love and want to comfort.
In addition to offering compassion to others, we need to offer it to ourselves. Research on self-compassion shows that it has multiple positive benefits, including
Better ability to relate to others, increased happiness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, greater optimism, more positive mood, decreased stress, stonger personal initiative, a sense of curiosity and exploration.

Conclusively, Nemo Dat Quod non Abet; you cannot give what you don’t have. You have to be 💯 percent compassionate to yourself before you can extend your compassionate heart and mind to your neighbors, you co-workers, your friends, families, and strangers.

If animals can be compassionate, what’s stopping human being from been compassionate. Yes, compassion is evident among other animal species, such as monkeys, whales, elephants, and so many more. And of course, dogs and cats have been known to show endless amounts of unconditional love and compassion for humans. The Dalai Lama said “Compassion reduces our fear, boosts our confidence, and opens us to inner strength.”
Compassion is as vital to life as the air we breathe. For in the absence of compassion, how many benevolent, selfless and heroic deeds would have happened throughout history?
Imagine a world without Mother Teresa, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Obafemi Awolowo, Mary Slessor, MKO Abiola, Herberty Macaulay Martin Luther King, Jr., St. Francis of Assisi, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and so many others.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that one in four of us will experience a mental health problem in our lifetimes, yet many of us most in need of mental health services and support often go without it, there is therefore great need to be compassionate about oneself and towards people around us since our mental health facilities are not really accessible and affordable. We can not only improve our own mental wellbeing and self-kindness, but can also help to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness that can limit one’s willingness to seek help when needed.

What Is Compassion?
Compassion is defined as the ability to understand the emotional state of another person. Moreover, it encompasses understanding our own emotional state. As a result, compassion motivates us to help and support others—and ourselves. It inspires us to do what we can to ease another person’s suffering. In fact, compassion literally means,“to suffer together.”
Compassion is an innate human quality, according to researchers. Therefore, we are all born with the tendency to be generous and kind to others. However, as we age, all of us face challenging circumstances and feel emotional pain at one time or another. These experiences can stand in the way of our natural compassion. That’s because it’s hard to feel love and compassion for others when we feel empty ourselves.
The good news is that compassion is like a muscle that can be strengthened with practice.

HOW TO ENCOURAGE KINDNESS
You can encourage kindness through:
Modeling acts of kindness
Giving responsibilities and opportunities
Inspiring positive actions toward others
Teaching empathy and compassion
Notice the list does not include rewards. Perhaps that speaks to the better angels of nature. People are good for goodness’s sake, not for applause.
WHAT GET IN A WAY OF KINDNESS?
You may encounter many stumbling blocks on the path of showing kindness to others. For example:
External rewards
Self-interest (you can’t give to get)
Risk to self or others (it requires bravery to risk being rebuffed)
Lack of confidence
Not being aware of others; too busy and distracted
Negative emotions
Hunger
Fatigue
Any one of these complications may stop you (even temporarily) from receiving or showing kindness. Being aware of your circumstances is the first way to counteract these (hopefully temporary) stops on your kindness journey.
KINDNESS TO ONESELF
When kindness is authentically given and received it lifts the well-being and mood of everyone involved. There’s no downside or side effect of positive feelings. Kindness is good. It’s important to be kind to yourself  first. Whatever you can manage today is good enough. Some people feel that the lockdown is giving them the time and chance to learn new skills or try new things. That may be you, and if so, enjoy and celebrate that. If this isn’t you, try not to beat yourself up about what you see others doing. If things are hard right now, try and find some small things to celebrate each day. Getting up and washing your hair can be just as much of an achievement as someone else posting about a 5k run on Instagram.  Try to tune out the voice of judgement and comparison and tune in to the voice that says you are enough. 
Be kind to yourself; Prioritise some “me” time, so you can relax and reflect on how you’re feeling and how your day or week has been so far. Turn off from your social media channels for a day, or even a week. Treat yourself to something small, such as buying or planting some flowers. Do something you enjoy, like listening to a favourite song or dancing in your kitchen. Spend some time in nature, which is good for our mental health. 
RECIEVING KINDNESS
If you are like most people, you probably find it easier to be kind than to be on the receiving act of a kind act. When someone compliments you, do you reply, “it was nothing” or “no problem” ? Many people have adopted this learned behavior as a way of being humble, but what this actually does is constrict the flow of the energy of giving and receiving. If someone gives you a compliment, not receiving it stops its power for both the giver and the receiver. Sometimes receiving kindness and compassion can feel threatening, as though the one being kind is somehow superior. If you notice you have trouble receiving gifts, compliments, or acts of generosity and love, spend some time reflecting on why. Who taught you to behave this way? Is it serving you and those around you?
Conclusively, If there was one magical cure for many of the woes of the world, it might be the power of kindness. When the epidemic of stress, anxiety, and depression threatens to overload the medical system and impede progress toward a greater sense of common humanity, and when the world can seem more divided than united, giving and receiving kindness is a way to connect at a deeper level. Kindness is a means of acknowledging that the needs of others are worthy of attention and that actions on their behalf are meaningful. Now is the time to re-imagine a kinder society that better protects our mental health. Mother Teresa obeseverd that “A life not lived for others is not a life.”
If you have a story of how a kind act made a difference in your life, please share it in the comments below. You never know how your story might impact the life of another.

Kindly subscribe to our blog to enjoy more educating articles about mental health and other related issues by following the link below: womansupportingwoman.family.blog

Imagine if we build kindness into our business decisions, government policy and official systems in a way that supports everyone’s mental health am sure it will reduces discrimination and inequality. But that can start by individual commitments to showing kindness in our words and our actions. Kindness, therefore, is not just an emotion, but is defined by our actions. These“acts of kindness” do not have to be grand gestures. Listening to and being with someone as they talk about a bad day, holding the door for someone who has their arms full, or being accepting towards those around us can all be acts of kindness.

BENEFIT OF KINDNESS

1. The more you do for others, the more you do for yourself . The benefits of helping others can last long after the act itself, for those offering kindness, and those who benefit. This, in turn, can improve our self-esteem.
2. Biologically, kindness releases chemicals like the “love hormone,” oxytocin, which helps us form social bonds based on trust. While being kind benefits us socially, there are also biological reasons why kindness improves our mental health. Our brains reward us when we do kind things. If you comfort someone who has lost a loved one, your brain may release oxytocin, a hormone that helps us bond with others. Oxytocin makes us more trusting, generous, and friendly. Additionally, kind actions signal our brains to release serotonin and dopamine, two chemicals involved in creating “helper’s high” and lessening pain, depression, and anxiety.
3. It helps to make the world a happier place – one act of kindness can often lead to more! Acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a happier place. An act of kindness can boost feelings of confidence, being in control, happiness and optimism. They may also encourage others to repeat the good deeds they’ve experienced themselves – contributing to a more positive community.
4. Helping others feels good . Studies have found that acts of kindness are linked to increased feelings of wellbeing. Helping others can also improve our support networks and encourage us to be more active. This, in turn, can improve our self-esteem. There is some evidence to suggest that when we help others, it can promote changes in the brain that are linked with happiness.
5. It releases positivity: We feel better and the recipients of our acts feel better, which then makes them more likely to be kind to other people.

Kindly subscribe to our blog to enjoy more educating articles about mental health and other related issues by following the link below: womansupportingwoman.family.blog