Jun
06
A conversation about Compasssion – Summer listening
We’re heading off for a Spanish summer treat early this year. Part of my preparations include compiling the video’s, talks, and long reads I didn’t have time for earlier in the year. Perhaps you might be the same – hoping to find moments to pause, relax and ‘catch-up’ on those delights you may have missed. I’d like to offer you one more to add to your list.
Empathy and Compassion
The Mind & Life podcast features a wonderful conversation with the fabulous Tania Singer, PhD. Tania is a world leader in studying empathy and compassion, and her pioneering work explores the interpersonal aspects of the brain and contemplative practice. Her early research subject was Ven. Matthieu Ricard (translator for the Dalai Lama, author, and humanitarian), and through the work they did together, we now know so much about the role of compassion as an antidote to empathy burnout. This knowledge and understanding of the difference in the effect of empathy and compassion on the brain, and of course the psychological effect, is especially important for healthcare workers, caregivers and emergency response professionals. Compassion, as well as different contemplative and mindfulness practices, are trainable, and this is profoundly important and hopeful in this world that we live in today. It really is a fascinating conversation.
On compassion Tania says, “This is not suffering with someone. It is getting into the state of unconditional love and the motivation to really wish the other well and to really have this caring motivation of concern….It’s really about, May the other be well, may the other not suffer anymore. How can I help? I’m really concerned about your welfare. I am concerned that your suffering be taken away from you.”
Some interesting results from Tania’s long-term mental training research (ReSource Project) show that what we practice and what we attend to grows. What we practice does matter and different practices will affect different changes in the brain. Some other interesting results that may be useful if you are considering taking up or restarting a meditation or mindfulness practice.
- Meditation / contemplative practices improve attention
- Regular meditation practice increases brain networks related to: attention and monitoring functions; emotions, compassion and empathy; perspective taking
- Meditation and mindfulness practices can help to reduce your subjective experience of stress
- Meditating with a partner – interpersonal mindfulness – can reduce stress-related cortisol levels
- We can learn to understand and regulate our emotions better, and with regular practice, we get better at recognizing our body’s signals and regulating our nervous system
- Compassion training increases trust, generosity and other altruistic actions
These are loads of reasons why pausing, resting (and relaxing) and opening to our present moment experience with kindness, care and compassion are really useful and fulfilling practices to bring into our days.
If you want to explore this a little more, get in touch or join the information session for our next mindfulness-based program in August.
Don’t miss the Early Bird – open to Aug 25, 2025
In the spirit of Compassion
Because what we practice does matter, I would like to share another gift with readers.
A short compassion practice that you can explore on your holidays, or now…just as you like. This practice is inspired by one of my dear teachers Eva Papadopoulo.
