Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/self-compassion/5025116/
Compassion (noun):
A feeling of sharing another’s suffering that leads to a desire to help.
Over the course of the last 15 years, I have written three books for teachers of young children. In each of the books, whether they are about reflecting on how we developed our biases, the way we were disciplined, or how we sought attention as children, I conclude with a chapter on compassion. Developing compassion is critical when working with children and families, for when we are able to put ourselves in another’s shoes, we understand them better and are more able to validate their emotions.
A few weeks ago, I went to visit a new elementary school that opened in our area. As I walked through the building, I noticed three posters displayed prominently on one of its walls explaining desirable characteristics for children to develop: Courage, Curiosity, and Compassion. The administrator who guided my tour explained these characteristics are connected to the social-emotional component of the curriculum and are part of the school’s vision for the children. Underneath each noun was a definition. Under the word compassion, the definition read: A feeling of sharing another’s suffering that ...