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     8 years ago 

    Good post....we should realize our feelings what we are showing...
    True love or just pitty

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     8 years ago 

    This reflects my intense dislike of psychological support (my experience of) people pitying me when i needed compassion to.heal not belittling. I think most of my.muse is on that quest for compassion. Similar too : empathy versus sympathy. Argh can type no more. Carpal tunnel but interesting

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     8 years ago 

    I understand what you're saying although I never consciously thought of it before. Sometimes I don't want others to know if something is wrong with me so I don't open up because I don't want people to feel pity for me, but it does feel different and better to accept compassion from others.

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     8 years ago (edited)

    I feel like compassion is rarely ever taken the wrong way. It doesn't have the need for recognition or feedback that comes with pity. There's no need to brag when you do a good thing. It's just what feels right. Thanks for stopping by @isaria! <3

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       8 years ago 

      interesting comparison of the two. yet isn't compassion also a form of feeling sorry for or wanting to help? otherwise why would one have the emotion? and seeing the need for help means one also sees the need for change in the situation rather than just accepting the human condition, which is at certain times suffering.

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       8 years ago 

      I suppose it's all in where it's coming from and how you approach others. For example seeing someone terminally ill or struggling with past trauma doesn't mean we need to feel sorry for them. I think wanting to help others is just part of caring. Sometimes people just need to know someone does care and accept them regardless. You can empathize with someone and not pity them or feel better than them. Just like people can pity others and hate themselves inside. One is about acceptance and the other is about denial. Love vs fear. At least that's how I see it.

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         8 years ago 

        not disagreeing. it's a good thing to think on.

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         8 years ago 

        I believe empathy is also a big part of the equation. If you can at a base human level feel what they are going through, you then could being to feel compassionate. However if there is no empathy, only pity can be evoked, even under the best of intentions.

        I asked a question a few days ago about if all kindness is in essence selfish. In that you stand to gain ultimately in the end. This post really digs deep into that. Where the kindess and good will come from is equally as important as the action.

        Great perspective. Something to think about. Do you think these are absolutes or can change over time?

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         8 years ago 

        I think the only absolute is that everything has an equal and opposite manifestation. :)

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         8 years ago 

        Eventually, in the scope of time. Sure.

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         8 years ago 

        Great post. People should follow their heart instead of others

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         8 years ago 

        Thank you for your thoughts. I appreciate that you point out that one reaction to seeing another's pain is the temptation to fix or control the situation. It's tough when there really is nothing more you can do for someone except to be present with them.

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         8 years ago 

        A possibly not-even-conscious feeling of superiority. Food for thought.

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         8 years ago (edited)

        I can definitely see that. I tend to view compassion as the more favorable approach, but perhaps it's just preference. Maybe neither is even necessary. Interesting thinking indeed.

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         8 years ago 

        I meant more your exposition was food for thought for me-
        I tend to view them both as necessary, but I feel like that slight hint of preeminence makes pity a bit more of a 'negative' emotion. That being said, I think that's only if you dwell in it. It serves a purpose (in my mind) as a transitory emotion, which helps you from a state like anger move into one more like empathy. Sometimes you need middle steps on journeys.

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         8 years ago 

        I actually meditated on this thought for a while last night. I focused a lot on transforming my perceived negative emotions into their counterparts for a long while and then I started pushing for balance. I never really thought about the concept of which is more necessary until last night and while I still come to the same conclusion that I feel compassion is the goal, perhaps we could never know or learn compassion without knowing pity. Either way if we're both growing and learning from this post I'm glad I wrote it. :)