Have you guys heard of the Giving Pledge? Well, it is a campaign that was launched by some of the world’s richest people including the likes of Warren Buffet, Bill, and Melinda Gates. What is it about? It’s aimed at nudging the world’s wealthy to give away at least half their wealth to the poor.
Have you heard of the organization ‘Médecins Sans Frontières’? Maybe its English name, ‘Doctors Without Borders’ would sound more familiar. The organization is engaged in providing humanitarian assistance in the form of medical aid in areas such as conflict zones, regions hit by disasters, as well as those which are excluded from healthcare. A great number of the emergency medical camps that sprout up in war zones and similar terrain are set up by the doctors from this organization.
What is the underlying emotion or value in both the scenarios depicted above? It is one of the most core values of human existence – ‘compassion’. What does it mean to be compassionate? And why should you impart this beautiful value to your kids? Let’s find out the answers to these questions.
What does it mean to be compassionate?
Compassion is a word that is not strange to our conversations. We hear people using the word a lot and we may often use the word ourselves. But what really does it mean to be compassionate or show compassion? When you see someone going through a tough time, the humane instinct in you naturally makes you feel sympathetic for that person.
At a deeper level, we might be able to put ourselves in the shoes of the person and be empathetic. To be compassionate is more than that. It means to understand the suffering of the other and to do something about it. It is an active attempt to change things, to soothe those who are suffering, and in the process, create a better world.
Why should we teach our kids to be compassionate?
We invest a great deal in the education of our kids, and quite rightfully so. We take great care in picking the right schools, the right tutors, and the right CCAs in order to ensure that our kids have bright futures.
But are good grades and promising careers all that is to education?
True or holistic education is incomplete without giving proper attention to values.
Think about all that the world has gone through during the past year. This would help you appreciate the value of compassion.
There are many people out there, especially at this point in time, who can use some help. At certain points in our lives, each one of us will be in need of compassion. So, it helps if we craft compassion as a basic and unavoidable value in everyone.
Teaching compassion
Now, which is the best school to teach kids compassion? Yes, you guessed it right – home. The best teacher for compassion is the family.
Start with small acts of compassion within your own family and household. Parents, you guys need to be role models here. More than words, there needs to be action.
Let your kids see how you are compassionate to the elders in your family who may be faced with ailments related to their age. Let kids see how you take care of each other or the kids when they fall sick.
Support a charity and encourage your child to join you in such activities. Share with them tales of compassion and let them see the beauty and power of compassionate acts. The compassion in your actions gets imprinted on the minds of your kids in a more impactful and lasting manner than anything else.
Compassion is something that cannot be learned in classrooms. Homes have simply got to take the lead in nurturing this quality in the youth of today. Schools should supplement this process. Everyone can chip in here so that our younger generation picks up the right values.
Let’s define ‘success’ to our kids not just in a manner that encompasses wealth and material well-being but also with values such as compassion, kindness, and love. Without these qualities, human existence will never be complete. Let’s create a more compassionate planet! 🙂
Character Education: Compassion –
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