Word Wednesday #4 - Compassion!

Today our word is "Compassion"!

I spent my weekend participating in virtual talks and workshops through the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. Wow, did I emerge from that inspired and empowered! There were so many engaging speakers, brilliant ideas, and beautiful discussions about merging the traditional behavioral world with the clinical psychological world. I've spent the past few days digesting everything and one moment has really stuck in my mind...

During a panel on behavior analysts using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dr. Evelyn Gould shared that this worldview has made her "fiercely compassionate."

How can we be fiercely compassionate? Does it mean we run around hugging everyone tightly like Elmyra from Tiny Toons? Do we hand daisies to everyone we meet? Do we scream "I'm doing this because I love you!!" every time we interact with another human? Doubtful. Those are scary.

As a human in 2020, compassion is frequently on my mind as I read the news or scroll through social media. To be compassionate is to love others, to take their perspectives, and to support their health and growth. We talk to many humans daily who are showing compassion towards those who need it: Allies who are protesting in the streets, neighbors bringing groceries to the elderly, donations being made to bail funds and food banks, and more.

For behavior analysts, or those in mental health or teaching professions, maybe it means that we take the time to think about the environmental contexts of others' behaviors. We can think of behaviors large or small, overt or covert, because everything has been shaped by the person's environment and learning history. We can meet a person where they are in terms of their knowledge, skills, and values. We can find what motivates them and support them in moving in the direction of their values. We're in the business of helping people live their lives the way they want to do so.

I responded to an email yesterday that really brought up all of these thoughts. A complaint had been made against a non-profit I support that by making a Black Lives Matter post they had become "a political organization."

Here's my hot take: Compassion is not a political stance. It is part of the human experience, a worthwhile value, and the best way for us to support each other in this crazy world. Be fierce about it.