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Be compassionate

Vee

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
The dictionary describes compassion as being “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”

In the Bible there are several verses about the importance of compassion. In 1 John 3:17 we read “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” and Ephesians 4: 31,32 says “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as by Christ, God forgave you.” One of the most famous verses in the Bible states that “there is more happiness in giving than receiving” (Acts 20:35), so the Bible clearly encourages compassion.

But it seems like compassion is not good just for Christians who want to follow the Bible’s advice. Science agrees that compassion is good for everyone.

Mental health researchers believe that practicing compassion improves health. People who help others feel happier, less lonely, and more positive.

An article published in 2013 by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley says the following: “Research by Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, leading researchers in positive psychology, suggests that connecting with others in a meaningful way helps us enjoy better mental and physical health and speeds up recovery from disease; furthermore, research by Stephanie Brown, at Stony Brook University, and Sara Konrath, at the University of Michigan, has shown that it may even lengthen our lifespan.

The reason a compassionate lifestyle leads to greater psychological well-being may be that the act of giving appears to be as pleasurable as the act of receiving, if not more so. A brain-imaging study led by neuroscientists at the National Institutes of Health showed that the “pleasure centers” in the brain—i.e., the parts of the brain that are active when we experience pleasure (like dessert, money, and sex)—are equally active when we observe someone giving money to charity as when we receive money ourselves!

Research also suggests that a compassionate lifestyle may improve longevity, which may be because it provides a buffer against stress. A recent study conducted on a large population (more than 800 people) and led by the University at Buffalo’s Michael Poulin found that stress was linked to a higher chance of dying—but not among those who helped others.”

Here are a couple more articles that emphasize the same ideas:

The Health Benefits of Practicing Compassion | HuffPost

The Best Kept Secret to Happiness & Health: Compassion
 

savagewind

Veteran Member
Premium Member
.

A brain-imaging study led by neuroscientists at the National Institutes of Health showed that the “pleasure centers” in the brain—i.e., the parts of the brain that are active when we experience pleasure (like dessert, money, and sex)—are equally active when we observe someone giving money to charity as when we receive money ourselves!
OK?

It is why I rated the post funny.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
The dictionary describes compassion as being “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”

Yeap, got to remember to be compassionate to all them overweight folks taking up so much of the resources of our medical system.:D
 

BSM1

What? Me worry?
Yeap, got to remember to be compassionate to all them overweight folks taking up so much of the resources of our medical system.:D

Yep, and all those well meaning individual demanding I be compassionate in their terms...
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
I propose a special advisory definition of "compassion" for RF......

Be civil to other posters, even when tempted to berate
& insult them.....even though they're utterly wrong.

And no fair pointing out how often I fail to observe this, ya blither'n poodle walkers!
 
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corynski

Reality First!
Premium Member
The dictionary describes compassion as being “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”

In the Bible there are several verses about the importance of compassion. In 1 John 3:17 we read “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” and Ephesians 4: 31,32 says “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as by Christ, God forgave you.” One of the most famous verses in the Bible states that “there is more happiness in giving than receiving” (Acts 20:35), so the Bible clearly encourages compassion.

But it seems like compassion is not good just for Christians who want to follow the Bible’s advice. Science agrees that compassion is good for everyone.

Mental health researchers believe that practicing compassion improves health. People who help others feel happier, less lonely, and more positive.

An article published in 2013 by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley says the following: “Research by Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, leading researchers in positive psychology, suggests that connecting with others in a meaningful way helps us enjoy better mental and physical health and speeds up recovery from disease; furthermore, research by Stephanie Brown, at Stony Brook University, and Sara Konrath, at the University of Michigan, has shown that it may even lengthen our lifespan.

The reason a compassionate lifestyle leads to greater psychological well-being may be that the act of giving appears to be as pleasurable as the act of receiving, if not more so. A brain-imaging study led by neuroscientists at the National Institutes of Health showed that the “pleasure centers” in the brain—i.e., the parts of the brain that are active when we experience pleasure (like dessert, money, and sex)—are equally active when we observe someone giving money to charity as when we receive money ourselves!

Research also suggests that a compassionate lifestyle may improve longevity, which may be because it provides a buffer against stress. A recent study conducted on a large population (more than 800 people) and led by the University at Buffalo’s Michael Poulin found that stress was linked to a higher chance of dying—but not among those who helped others.”

Here are a couple more articles that emphasize the same ideas:

The Health Benefits of Practicing Compassion | HuffPost

The Best Kept Secret to Happiness & Health: Compassion

Good message, I agree completely. I've noticed curious changes as I just turned 80 and have less need of everything it seems, so I have extras to give away often. My situation is that I've been more than fortunate throughout my life, mostly through no effort or design of my own, just chance I'm sure. Such as never having an operation or a broken bone, always able to find a job or get a loan..... always something that didn't carry a downside. I give a lot just because I've received a lot I guess. But I see my adopted son, who was a 'blue' baby because his mother had german measles during pregnancy, have nothing but trouble in his life. Born deaf, he also suffered a stroke at 40 and was diagnosed with Moya-moya disease! Right, google it, it's a terrible situation where the blood vessels going to the brain don't develop, resulting in reduced blood flow...... so my son had a stoke, recovered from two brain surguries, and then just recently had to have a heart valve replaced. And he has suffered all his life with headaches and now he gets them just from bright sunlight. He's had all these problems, none of which are his 'fault', I would say, and who knows what else is to come. So it seemed just natural to help with with everything, there was never any question. Those who are fortunate should give and give and give I think........
 

sayak83

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
The dictionary describes compassion as being “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”

In the Bible there are several verses about the importance of compassion. In 1 John 3:17 we read “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” and Ephesians 4: 31,32 says “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as by Christ, God forgave you.” One of the most famous verses in the Bible states that “there is more happiness in giving than receiving” (Acts 20:35), so the Bible clearly encourages compassion.

But it seems like compassion is not good just for Christians who want to follow the Bible’s advice. Science agrees that compassion is good for everyone.

Mental health researchers believe that practicing compassion improves health. People who help others feel happier, less lonely, and more positive.

An article published in 2013 by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley says the following: “Research by Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, leading researchers in positive psychology, suggests that connecting with others in a meaningful way helps us enjoy better mental and physical health and speeds up recovery from disease; furthermore, research by Stephanie Brown, at Stony Brook University, and Sara Konrath, at the University of Michigan, has shown that it may even lengthen our lifespan.

The reason a compassionate lifestyle leads to greater psychological well-being may be that the act of giving appears to be as pleasurable as the act of receiving, if not more so. A brain-imaging study led by neuroscientists at the National Institutes of Health showed that the “pleasure centers” in the brain—i.e., the parts of the brain that are active when we experience pleasure (like dessert, money, and sex)—are equally active when we observe someone giving money to charity as when we receive money ourselves!

Research also suggests that a compassionate lifestyle may improve longevity, which may be because it provides a buffer against stress. A recent study conducted on a large population (more than 800 people) and led by the University at Buffalo’s Michael Poulin found that stress was linked to a higher chance of dying—but not among those who helped others.”

Here are a couple more articles that emphasize the same ideas:

The Health Benefits of Practicing Compassion | HuffPost

The Best Kept Secret to Happiness & Health: Compassion
Nice post. :thumbsup:
 
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