Blog Post by Joe Babaian
During this time of global uncertainty, it’s easy to skip right past a lot of what matters – in times of crisis or otherwise. Let’s take some time to breathe and remind each other of the foundation we rest upon.
Compassion literally means “to suffer together.” Among emotion researchers, it is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering.
Compassion is not the same as empathy or altruism, though the concepts are related. While empathy refers more generally to our ability to take the perspective of and feel the emotions of another person, compassion is when those feelings and thoughts include the desire to help. Altruism, in turn, is the kind, selfless behavior often prompted by feelings of compassion, though one can feel compassion without acting on it, and altruism isn’t always motivated by compassion.
I love words and in this case, it’s worth our time to understand the differences here and how these three traits interact and yet are uniquely different. None of them should exist in a vacuum.
Let’s spend some time this week thinking about What Matters Most In Healthcare and how we are all a part of that! I know the #hcldr community is bursting at the seams when it comes to this discussion!
Please join us Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at 8:30 pm ET as we discuss the following topics:
- T1: How does compassion differ from empathy in your healthcare world? Examples?
- T2: How does your approach to compassion and empathy impact the results you want to see professionally and personally?
- T3: What is the greatest need in healthcare when it comes to compassion and how do we address that need?
- T4: What have your experiences taught you about what difference one person can make in healthcare? Large or small?
Photo by juan pablo rodriguez on Unsplash
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