A word that describes the necessity of courage to be able to do things together is “compassion.”
The word “compassion” (“to suffer together with”) derives etymologically from the Latin words “cum” (with) and “patior” (to suffer).
As it is understood today, compassion can be seen as a “concern for the well-being of others,” or as a “feeling that arises in witnessing another’s suffering and that motivates a subsequent desire to help.”
But that perception might limit our understanding of compassion itself. When considering compassion as a moral force, we are not limited by a context of helping; we can see compassion as an element of everyday relationships.
One that becomes accessible through awareness.
The starting point of such awareness is our self-knowledge. Through self-knowledge, we develop an understanding of what suffering means to us, and when we experience ourselves as suffering. Our self-knowledge also allows us to remain aware of our reactions when we allow our suffering to be present without resisting it. It’s a path that allows us to discover compassion and become able to be compassionate towards others.
Many of us have been taught that we shouldn’t suffer. And it’s true, there is no need to suffer. However, when it happens, it is up to us to choose our response. The idea that we don’t need to suffer may lead to confusion whenever we assume that we will not suffer at all. We might try to solve the situation by deciding not to suffer, i.e., resist our suffering in general.
But that’s assuming negating life and our existing experience.
One approach to addressing our resistance to suffering is to learn and use three forms of courage. These are the courage to use our authority, the courage to be solidary, and the courage to be sincere. The three of them are intertwined and need to be accessible together to allow us to act with compassion.
When we do, it is the result of being able to see and accept our experience and stand up to it, the willingness to temporarily see the world from the other person’s point of view, and to truly share what is occurring to us in the moment.
