Compassion to Others

Compassion to others.

Here at True Balance Karate in Downers Grove, Illinois, we have a social-emotional learning program called Two Character. I’m Master H, owner and chief instructor here at the studio. I have two master’s degrees in education, and we’ve developed this curriculum to best meet the needs of our youngest students who are three or four, and our oldest student who is 85.

And this month we are talking about showing compassion. And we started off the month defining it, taking a look around and seeing that someone’s feeling upset, someone’s feeling frustrated, somebody’s mad. And then wanting to do something about it, wanting to show that empathy, that kindness, wanting to take action to make it at least a little bit better for that particular person.

And so this week, we are talking about, well, how do we show compassion to those people around us? What are some of the skills and strategies we can use to show that compassion? And making sure that we’re doing it in a respectful manner because some people don’t want compassion. They want a moment to just process, so we need to make sure that as we’re showing our compassion to people, we’re also using our listening skills. Because if what they really want or need is a moment to process, a moment to be left alone, a moment to just breathe and move past something, then that could be the compassionate act, giving them that opportunity to just deal with things the way they need to. Because I can speak from experience if you’ve let me be, but you have also said, “I’m here. Just let me know.” I will reach out if I truly need it and I have to trust that the people who tell me that as well, will do the same thing.

So how are we compassionate to people around us? How do we show them compassion? We could give a hug. We could lend a sympathetic ear. We can pick up the phone and make a phone call and talk with them. We read their body language. Are they curled away and cut off from the world? So at that point, maybe we’re just going to sit next to them and just be silent because sometimes that’s all somebody needs, is you sitting next to them and being silent? Do they look super excited and scared all at the same time, because they’re afraid to ride a rollercoaster? That would be me. So how do you talk them through that? What action can you take to help them and to understand where it is that they’re coming from? Because some of what compassion is, is having an understanding of that particular feeling and then working towards really learning about what they’re going through, what their situation is, that kind of thing.

And compassion is also one of those things where we can show it to people that we don’t know. Collecting canned goods to give to our local food pantry. Doing some type of blessings in a bag, or blessings in a backpack, where we can gather things together that would then get donated to homeless shelters, things like that. Making donations to Goodwill, or to other such charity donations to Christmas donations for toys, that kind of thing; a toy drive. Those types of things would show compassion.

When my kiddos were younger and we would have birthday parties, the family party, it was gifts were allowed. The friends party, the kids would choose a different charity, a different group that they wanted to donate to. Usually my kids picked the Humane Society because they liked pets and all of their friends would bring gifts that were on the Humane Society’s wishlist. And that was how I taught my kids to think about others besides themselves. They readily recognized that they didn’t need all of the toys, and they felt good about doing something for dogs and cats that needed something.

So, taking opportunities like that to demonstrate compassion for people, and the world around us, doing those kinds of things, that’s how we demonstrate our compassion. And so next week we’re going to talk about compassion in the world around us, and then we’re going to finish off with showing compassion for ourselves.

Thanks, and I’ll see you on the mat!

True Balance Karate was founded in 2012 by Master Sue and Paul Helsdon.

We offer kids karate lessons for pre-school children ages 3-6 and elementary age kids ages 7 and up. These lessons are designed to develop the critical building blocks kids need — specialized for their age group — for school excellence and later success in life.

Our adult martial arts training is a complete adult fitness and conditioning program for adults who want to lose weight, get (and stay) in shape, or learn self-defense in a supportive environment.

Instructors can answer questions or be contacted 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week at 630-663-2000. You can also contact us here. True Balance Karate is at 406 Ogden Ave Downers Grove Illinois, 60515 (next to CVS) Check out our Facebook!