Thanks, De. I get that you're saying compassion is an action, not a feeling. How does that square with Marvin Olasky's treatment of the word "compassion?" IIRC, he takes it down to the roots and concludes that compassion means "suffering with." How does one suffer with someone without feeling what they feel, or at least feeling something? BTW, I don't think I have compassion fatigue, but before I watched your video I would have said that's because I could be more compassionate than I am.
I’ve always had a hard time with that definition of compassion. “Suffering with” does not mean “suffering as well” but “being alongside” someone who suffers, from my view. Also, “compassion” more literally means bringing my passion alongside the passion of another…aligning passions, so to speak. Feeling what someone feels, especially in intensity and duration, does little to actually help the sufferer. Indeed it may cloud my judgement so that I take action that makes them feel relief now but eventually intensifies their struggle. Starting with the mindset that compassion-is-action puts everything into perspective. And, as we’ve all learned, our feelings about something have more to do with us than with the situation or the person. Stick around for the next part (there are 3 parts) of this series. -De
Thank you for this.
My pleasure!
Great video. Thank you
Glad you liked it!
Thanks, De. I get that you're saying compassion is an action, not a feeling. How does that square with Marvin Olasky's treatment of the word "compassion?" IIRC, he takes it down to the roots and concludes that compassion means "suffering with." How does one suffer with someone without feeling what they feel, or at least feeling something? BTW, I don't think I have compassion fatigue, but before I watched your video I would have said that's because I could be more compassionate than I am.
I’ve always had a hard time with that definition of compassion. “Suffering with” does not mean “suffering as well” but “being alongside” someone who suffers, from my view. Also, “compassion” more literally means bringing my passion alongside the passion of another…aligning passions, so to speak. Feeling what someone feels, especially in intensity and duration, does little to actually help the sufferer. Indeed it may cloud my judgement so that I take action that makes them feel relief now but eventually intensifies their struggle. Starting with the mindset that compassion-is-action puts everything into perspective. And, as we’ve all learned, our feelings about something have more to do with us than with the situation or the person. Stick around for the next part (there are 3 parts) of this series. -De