{"id":66936,"date":"2019-07-28T18:11:13","date_gmt":"2019-07-29T02:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=66936"},"modified":"2019-07-31T19:11:15","modified_gmt":"2019-08-01T03:11:15","slug":"harnessing-self-compassion-and-altruistic-behavior-improves-quality-of-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/harnessing-self-compassion-and-altruistic-behavior-improves-quality-of-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Harnessing Self-Compassion and Altruistic Behavior Improves Quality of Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

For centuries, people have contemplated and argued over the\nmerits and flaws of the human condition. Philosophers and psychologists have\ntheoretically and scientifically dissected elements of the human psyche to get\na better understanding of who we are as a species, and why we do what we do.\nWhile much focus has been given to negative aspects of personal choices, I\nthought to put this discussion on an upswing through positivity by focusing on\nself-compassion and altruistic behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Self-Worth May Come from the Outside In<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

More than ever, it\u2019s become difficult to acquire\nself-awareness without partnering in self-defeating thoughts and\nmisperceptions. True, in part, we are all a result of where we come from, what\nwe\u2019ve experienced, and the meaning we put behind it individually and\ncollectively. Additionally, social media and the quest for being seen and heard\ninstantaneously put added pressure on being our best, whether real or through a\nFacebook filter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding to Others\u2019 Plight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When considering how we represent ourselves to others, those we know as well as those we\u2019ve yet to meet, research has shown that compassion towards others weighs heavy.<\/a> When a person readily shows kindness to another, it is one of the most coveted and desired traits. But is this an attribute people are born with or acquire?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caring Is Influenced by Early Environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Studies have shown that humans and animals may be prewired\nfor compassion. Think about when you\u2019re feeling down or upset about something.\nIf you have a household pet, a dog, reflect on how many times he or she somehow\nknew you needed comfort and came to your side for a nuzzle or a hug. Similarly,\nit\u2019s hard to shake off the feeling of seeing emotional or physical pain in\nsomeone else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, why can some people turn a blind eye to a homeless\nperson on a street corner in need of food or water, for example, while others\npossess the desire to help? The art of giving can be compartmentalized into two\nseparate cause-and-effects: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. The desire to make someone else feel good without<\/em> the expectation of anything in\nreturn, or<\/li>
  2. The intent to help another and receive a reward\nfor doing so.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Is one way of giving any more or less effective than the\nother? It may come down to the benefits each provides the person doing the\ngiving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Altruism Can Be Different than Compassion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Many people can exhibit empathy towards others without\nactually taking action. Ask yourself this question: The last time you\nencountered a homeless person, did you feel badly for them, give them what they\nneeded in material things, or have someone else provide them sustenance on your\nbehalf (on your dollar)? Compassion is that emotional connection we have and\nexhibit, related to another\u2019s feelings or situation and, the authentic desire\nto provide help to ease someone else\u2019s suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If a homeless person tugs on your heart strings, you exhibit\nempathy or the ability to take on what another person is feeling. Should you\nwant to take action and provide them a meal or a room to sleep, that is known\nas altruism. Although altruism connects empathy or compassion with feeling, it\ntranscends it through action that will positively impact the person or entity\non the receiving end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But can a person engage in altruism without taking credit\nfor it? Absolutely. Altruism is all about doing something for the greater good.\nFor example, providing an anonymous monetary or other type of donation to a\nperson or a cause is a form of altruism. Just as any other action is often a\nlearned response to something, altruism can be taught\u2014so too, can compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The Culture of Compassion Starts by Practicing Self Love<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    At some point in your lifetime, you may have heard a friend muse the following sentiment: \u201cIf you don\u2019t take care of you, how can you effectively take care of someone else?\u201d This is often evident in the case of family. I would know. I remember the anguish in witnessing my younger brother fall from the limelight due to drug addiction, before he finally received proper treatment and manage his opioid withdrawal symptoms using the Bridge Device<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When one member is going through a hard time, others will\noften sacrifice something of themselves to care for the one hurting. While this\nis noble and in the moment perceived as necessary, in the long term, it might\nbring about more harm. But by practicing self-compassion day-to-day, it puts\neach person in the position of loving oneself and honoring each aspect of their\nexistence: mind, body and soul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In doing so, we are practicing a heightened level of consciousness\nand with it, are more available to exercise compassion to others. But there\u2019s\nan instinctive side to compassion as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Paying It Forward, Squared<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Renowned naturalist Charles Darwin said this of the human\nrace and survival of the fittest : \u201cThe greater strength of the social or\nmaternal instincts than that of any other instinct or motive.\u201d He also held\nfirm that the communities made up of the most sympathetic individuals would do\nbetter, as a whole, than others and continue onward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To take this into your own life, consider the impact you can\nmake, simply by performing one random act of kindness each day. Now, what if\nthe person on the receiving end of your graciousness would do the same for\nsomeone else? And so on. And so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How long would it take for these acts of humanity to heal\nyour family, your circle of friends, your community, your city, and reach\nglobal proportion? Treating the world in kind begins with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Self-Love Is Essential to Emotional Survival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Neuroscientists at the National Institutes of Health<\/a> (NIH) have long been involved in the study of how the brain responds to compassion, specifically in the act of giving and receiving. Whether you are engaging in helping someone else or receiving the help, the brain\u2019s pleasure\/reward center ignites during the process. A flood of wonderful feel-good hormones is released to our internal systems, boosting emotional and physical wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yet, many continue to take in unhealthy sources to elicit\nour natural pleasure responses such as medications, alcohol, illegal drugs,\njunk foods, gaming, gambling, and more that certainly don\u2019t support emotional\nand physical balance in oneself or others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Removing Judgement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Understanding and accepting personal flaws and\ntransgressions, as well as bodily imperfections, is difficult as society\nbombards us with messages that dictate what we should be and how much we fall\nshort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A crucial part of self-love and self-compassion is to remove\nthe self-judgment that shrouds the way we view ourselves. Once you are able to\nhone the ability to keep judgment from derailing personal confidence, the time\nspent judging others will also fall away leaving more opportunity for\ncompassion to arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The Courage to Be Vulnerable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    One of the many repercussions of living in self-judgment is\nthat it allows us to keep a barrier within, keeping emotions at arm\u2019s length\nfrom our intelligence. A mind-to-soul disconnect then exists. Not only does\nthis prevent a knowing and accepting of whom each of us is, but also from being\nopen to true self-expression and reciprocal compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Eliminating Personal Fa\u00e7ade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Before a person can experience vulnerability, self-imposed\nwalls often used as coping mechanisms will need to be identified and eliminated.\nThese kinds of personal walls are built on the inside and used to shield us\nfrom life triggers that can bring about fear, anger, or discontent from\nunresolved issues in the past. In addition, when people create specific\npersonal fa\u00e7ades about themselves such as the selfie <\/em>culture on social media, it casts a false truth while\nexpressing what we want others to believe as real. This is a self-defeating\nritual that can compromise self-compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Accepting What Is Real<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Removing the veil of pretense is perhaps the most fulfilling undertaking one can do for oneself<\/a>. It takes the pressure off of achieving unrealistic expectations while opening up the door to realizing self-esteem and the need to help others experience the same. The power of living authentically and surrounding yourself with people who are just as real is life-changing, exponentially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Improve Quality of Life by Opening Your Heart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Nurturing compassion in any moment of the day empowers both the initiator and the receiver. Through self-love, you can reassess how to value yourself better and be gentle with yourself, ultimately serving the greater good. When humanity can get past the fear of what was<\/em> and enjoy what is<\/em>, the what will be<\/em> is more fruitful to us all. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    For centuries, people have contemplated and argued over the merits and flaws of the human condition. Philosophers and psychologists have theoretically and scientifically dissected elements of the human psyche to get a better understanding of who we are as a … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12716,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[32,5,21,112,6],"tags":[7168,7171,7166,7170,7169,319,5428],"yoast_head":"\nHarnessing Self-Compassion and Altruistic Behavior Improves Quality of Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Through self-love, you can reassess how to value yourself better and be gentle with yourself, ultimately serving the greater good.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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