Compassion and empathy are at the core of relationships with other people. Defined as concern for the sufferings and misfortunes of others, compassion allows one to essentially view the world from other perspectives, affording people the internal capacity to help others in need that may be worse off in this world than themselves. For this reason (amongst others), it is crucial that individuals develop compassion as a way of life.

Developing compassion

The question, however, is how do you develop compassion? Developing compassion requires an active effort on the part of the individual. There are many ways for people to help themselves develop a sense of compassion. Generally speaking, one of the most significant ways that people develop compassion is by reaching out to other individuals.

Frequently, learning from the stories and lives of others can help people develop a sense of perspective. Knowing about the misfortunes of others can help individuals have a greater appreciation for their own fortune in life. If you want to develop compassion as a way of life, consider the following suggestions.

• Become involved in your community. Reach out to members of your community and learn about issues that affect the people around you. Community involvement can help an individual get out of his or her own personal world and understand life on a much larger scale.

• Volunteer. Volunteering is a great way to become involved in your community or contribute to a great cause. There are many volunteer opportunities available in local areas across the nation. However, if you want to expand the scope of your perspective even further, you can even research overseas volunteer opportunities around the world.

• Travel. Not everyone is as fortunate as the people are in the western world. There are so many individuals across the world that have so much less than Americans do. If you can afford the cost of travel in your budget, keep in mind that traveling is a great way to contribute to the economies of these underdeveloped nations through tourism. Further, travel can also provide you with the opportunity to glimpse life outside of your own nation.

Make compassion an integral part of your lifestyle

It may be one thing to be compassionate and understanding, but it is quite another thing to be sure that compassion becomes an integral and inherent part of your daily lifestyle.

• Start a gratuity journal. Understanding how fortunate you are can undeniably help you be more compassionate towards others that are not as fortunate as yourself on a daily basis. Every day, take a moment to write down a few words about what you are grateful for. At the end of each week or each month, read over all of the things that you have been blessed with. Gratuity journals not only allow you to realize how much you have in your life, they can also provide you with uplifting reinforcement during some of your most trying or most difficult moments.

• Make a commitment to volunteer. Volunteering every once in a while is admirable and great. But if you want to ensure that you have compassion as an integral part of your lifestyle, make a commitment to volunteering consistently. Choose a specific cause that you want to work for, or, otherwise, alternate between causes that mean something to you. Take time to volunteer every week, every month, every few months, or every year (depending on your personal and professional schedule) and make this a consistent habit.

• Create a ‘goal’ sheet. Take some time to consider other ways that you can help those around you. Make a list of these activities. It does not matter whether the individuals that you assist are your own family members or strangers or whether you help through donations or simply by lending a helping hand, engaging in these activities can help you integrate compassion into your daily lifestyle. Consider these activities (no matter how big or small) as ‘goals’ in your life. Then, work hard to achieve these goals by engaging in the activities that you have listed.

In conclusion, developing compassion as a way of life is admirable and life affirming. Integrating the aforementioned activities into your daily life will not only allow you to establish a greater sense of empathy, it will undoubtedly benefit the interpersonal relationships that you maintain and even multiply these relationships as you engage in new activities.