Is Compassion Inherent? – September Prompts for #1000Speak

This month we consider whether compassion is something we naturally have, or whether we learn it. Or is it both?

Generally speaking, most scientists agree that compassion is innate in humans and in many other animals. Some suggest that the tendencies to feel empathy and to want to help others who are suffering may even be necessary for humanity’s survival. Perhaps, without compassion the human race would have died out long ago. Some scientists have discovered that helping others makes us feel as much pleasure as we gain from getting our desires met. So compassion is good for us.

Yet, we aren’t always compassionate, either towards other people or ourselves.

We’d love it if you would like to join us in writing about Inherent Compassion. In case you aren’t sure what to write about here are some ideas:

Is compassion in our nature, or in our nurturing? Or in both? (We’d love to read anecdotal evidence and any research information you know about.)

What goes wrong? What makes us lose compassion?

Why do some people seem to be more compassionate than others?

How can we nurture compassion in ourselves and others – eg  in children?

Write about a time you witnessed compassion in a young child.

What is your first memory of feeling compassion?

If we lose compassion, how can we rekindle it?

What about self-compassion? Is it innate, and if so, why do so many people struggle to feel it? How can it help us have compassion for others?

 

If you would like to join us, the link-up is now open. Just write a relevant post and add it to the link-up right here by clicking the blue button below.