Compassion

“All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart. ―Tahereh Mafi ” 

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ― Aesop 

 "Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty." ― Proverbs 22:16

 Video from KarmaTube




Video from coachwooden.com

Compassion, love, makes the world go around. The very same wisdom threaded through the fabric of nature demands it. It is part of a properly working world...a key ingredient, intrinsic to nature. We drink it in like a cool drink, we long for it when it isn't there and we work for it when we fail in it. Love, or compassion, belongs in our world. It belongs in the home, in business, in school, on the streets, in recreation, in how we take care of the earth...it must belong everywhere.

Emma Seppala reports 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" (2015) She also reported that people experience an emotional state called "elevation" when they see someone else being compassionate. When their superiors show selflessness and fairness, employees experience this state. What a good thing for all concerned!

 As an educator, how do I see compassion working in school? I see it working in first, how I think about my students. Students detect insincerity quickly. I must BE compassionate, inside. Ancient wisdom says as much...
"...for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks..." (Matthew 15:18)

Second, how do I speak to my students? How do I speak about my students? What kind of time do I give them? Do I listen? The book The Heart of Learning and Teaching outlines six principles to cover the bases of compassion at school.

1. Empower your students.

2. Provide unconditional positive regard (in other words, love).

3. Maintain high expectations.

4. Check assumptions, observe and question.

5. Be a relationship coach.

6. Provide guided opportunities for helpful participation. 

According to Darwin, sympathy was our strongest instinct. According to Keltner, as we began to develop music, language, symbolism, humans' babies began to be born more prematurely. This occurred because as we began to walk upright and the birth canals became smaller (because hips moved inward) and the babies had to be born sooner. Human babies are extremely dependent. Because of this, humans developed into a "super care-giving species". (Kelnter)



"Heroic is altruism with a risk". Interestingly, this is under study. How do people come by this attitude or quality? How do they become heroic? Are they born that way? Apparently not! These people are somehow taught it. The following are qualifications:

Action

Goal is good

Risk to yourself

No anticipation of reward or recognition

 Incredible story of compassion. Out of compassion in his heart, he opens his home to bring children to a place where they can pursue interests beyond gang life. Awesome story! They can find their own interests. They are fed. They are empowered. How compassionate is that?!

"The only weapon we have is love."

Resources:

Blaustein, M. E., & Kinniburgh, K. M. (2010).  Treating traumatic stress in children and adolescents: How to foster resilience through attachment, self-regulation, and competency.  New York, NY: Guilford.      ISBN: 978-1-60623-625-3

Seppala, E. (2015). Why Compassion in Business Makes Sense. Retrieved June 3, 2015, from http://www.dailygood.org/2013/11/25/why-compassion-in-business-makes-sense/

Wolpow, R., Johnson, M. M., Hertel, R., & Kincaid, S. O. (2011).  The heart of learning and teaching: Compassion, resiliency, and academic success. Compassionate Schools: The Heart of Learning and Teaching. Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

Wooden, J. (2015). COACH JOHN WOODEN: Most important word is love. Retrieved June 3, 2015, from http://www.coachwooden.com/favorite-maxims

CNN Hero Juan Pablo Romero [Motion picture]. (2014). Guatemala.

Greater Good Science Center. (2012, July 28). Dacher Keltner on the Evolutionary Roots of Compassion [Video file]. Retrieved from http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/compassion/definition#why_practice

Greater Good Science Center. (2012, July 28). Paul Ekman: Heroic Compassion and Altruism  [Video file]. Retrieved from http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/compassion/definition#why_practice