Compassion Resources
We created this space to share diverse resources on compassion and kindness. As we discover quality sources of information and support, we will add those to the page.
Words from the heart Series
by Board Chair Pam Lewis, Ph.D., December 2024
Dear Friend,
For those of you who took part in our 10th annual Compassion Week last month, we thank you for joining in one or many of the special events that offered learning and direct experiences around our theme, We All Belong: Practicing Welcome and Inclusion. The presentations by partners and friends in our network would have very limited ripple effect in our community without your engaged participation!
One of the programs I attended began with the instruction for each of us to acknowledge something in our lives that is quite difficult to accept and to speak about that experience of suffering fully to 2 to 3 quietly- listening others (we would each have a turn at this). Having very recently co-facilitated a Compassionate Integrity Training (CIT) session on compassion, I was gratified by this step (“ah yes, compassion has to begin with the courage to see!”) while also understanding the difficulty this can entail ...
Make a Difference in the Community
According to a survey by bioethics professor Stephen Post and colleagues at Stony Brook University NY, "volunteering is an active form of hope." Post compares some of the benefits of volunteering with the vision Joseph Campbell describes in his bestseller Hero With A Thousand Faces: "finding the highest self in the act of helping others."
Volunteering and other acts of altruism and kindness are known to buffer stress and improve mental health in addition to making the world a better place.
VOLUnteering in the Greater Houston Region
We want to thank our partner organizations and extended network for their efforts in offering plenty of volunteer opportunities in the Greater Houston region, partly in collaboration with other community partners. Check out their websites (simply click on the logos above) for a match of your skills and passion. Whatever area you are volunteering in, know that you are making an impact and difference in your life, the lives of those you volunteer with, and the lives of those who benefit from your efforts. Volunteering is truly compassion in action!
““Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” ”
Develop compassion skills with CompassionateUSA’s FREE Micro-Course!
Research shows us that the evolving science behind kindness and compassion lies in a complex and fascinating interplay of various physiological and psychological processes, including increased levels of oxytocin, aka our "love hormone."
These findings highlight the profound impact that kindness and compassion can have on our well-being and social connections. You have access to > six videos on CompassionateUSA’s website, introducing a variety of skills and concepts that promote more compassion-centered living by content experts in the field. Each video provides a short reflective exercise so you can practice the skills you’ve learned. Additionally, you can download the video discussion guide for a self-reflection or invite community members or office workers into a group conversation!
Want to learn even more about compassion in action? Join CompassionateUSA's free micro-course here: https://compassionateusa.org/coursera/
The online, self-guided course guides you through skills so you can become more compassionate to yourself and others, and nurture deeper connections and compassion in your community.
Let's spread compassion and kindness together!
interconnectedness and shared humanity: Ubuntu-I am because we are
Ubuntu, in its essence, embodies a visionary potential to transform communities by fostering a deep sense of shared humanity and interconnectedness. Rooted in the idea that "I am because we are," Ubuntu encourages a collective approach to problem-solving, where the well-being of each individual is intertwined with the well-being of the entire community.
A collection of Free Random Acts of Kindness activities
Inspired by Compassionate Houston’s Project Kindness, where Houston Community College Honors students are paired with volunteer mentors 65+ for a 10-week exploration on all matters kindness, the program committee collaborated on a list of free Random Acts of Kindness examples for self and others. As the singer Katy Perry once wrote: "Kindness is always in stock.” Enjoy!
Compassion and Appreciating Humanity’s Inherent Goodness
Why do we cultivate compassion? Many essential reasons include our hopes for greater personal, societal, and global peace and well-being. However, recognizing that compassion’s ultimate aim is to alleviate suffering of all types, we glimpse its immense potential. With that glimpse, we may simultaneously experience both passionate inspiration and overwhelm as we move forward.
It is the passionate inspiration I want to call forth today!
The Power of Connections through Kindness
“Kindness is the connection that links us all together and strengthens the bonds within our communities, neighborhoods and families.” - Rosalynn Carter. Enjoy board president Pam Lewis’ insights on The Power of Connections through Kindness" in her quarterly “Words from the Heart” series, published in our newsletters. Follow Pam’s exploration of the topic as she is inviting you to focus on kindness during the holiday season.
Help Our Compassionate Community Rock on RAK Day!
Random Acts of Kindness Day is a day dedicated to promoting kindness and encouraging people to perform random acts of kindness. It is celebrated on February 17th each year and serves as a reminder to spread positivity and make a difference in the lives of others through small acts of kindness. On this day, let kindness be at the forefront of our thoughts, words and actions.
In February of 2024, we curated a selection of resources to inspire and guide you. From the various activities offered by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, a birthday fundraiser supporting local refugee families, to a collection of kindness quotes and a guided loving-kindness meditation. We even provide you with a complimentary KindCard designed by Sneha Bhavsar, a local visual artist and board member. Just save the card above and share with others!
A four-step guide to
self-care by Global Compassion Coalition
THE TOOLS YOU NEED FOR GREATER PEACE, HAPPINESS, AND RESILIENCE. In the booming self-care industry, it can be overwhelming to sift through the countless advice available. To simplify things, the Global Compassion Coalition's expert Kristine Claghorn developed an 8-page guide based on her personal journey of exploring various methods and uncovering the most effective approaches.
self-care and resilience resources by Jung Center Houston
You are a human being. and you are not alone. The Jung Center Houston has compiled a series of brief videos about how to know when you're struggling and what to do about it. We all struggle at times, and COVID made it difficult for all of us -- particularly those who care for others, either professionally or in our personal lives. These videos offer perspectives and simple tools to help yourself and to know when to ask for help from others.
Compassion ThRough the Arts
Compassionate Houston’s friends at WiVLA (Women in the Visual and Literary Arts), collaborated with the Holocaust Museum on the exhibition COMPASSION. A total of 19 pairings of visual and literary artists explored this theme, so dear to our own hearts. Please visit WiVLA’s website to order the full catalog, which offers all visual and full written pieces. You can watch the virtual exhibition on the Holocaust Museum’s website here (click the arrow on either side of the image to enter).
Compassion Books, TED Talks and Exercises
We have discovered this rich goldmine of videos, exercises, activities, TED talks, books, and other resources.
With appreciation to the author of this collection, Leslie Riopel, a freelance writer&psychology teacher with a Master’s degree in Psychology.
Reference: Riopel, Leslie. (2019, April 29).
Feeling Loss and Grief
Our friends are invaluable sources of information. We are grateful for Compassionate Houston’s close friend Pamela Kennedy who shared some beautiful and valuable thoughts about fully feeling loss and grief, which seems to be around a lot these days.
We hope the excerpt below will help you or a friend on your grief journey.
The Roots of Compassion by Prof. keltner
Published by the GGSC UC Berkeley, a partner of the Charter for Compassion, Professor Keltner takes a look at the roots and benefits of compassion.
The post includes a link to science-based activities cultivating compassion.
The short article ends with a YouTube recording on Heroic Compassion and Altruism by Dr. Paul Ekman, a pioneer in research on emotions.
Finding Freedom Wherever You Are
Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, and Trudy Goodman have put together a tool kit for a home retreat during times of uncertainty.
The three meditation and mindfulness teachers recommend to take time to nourish your spirit - be close to loved ones, connect (online or by phone) with acquaintances and friends, offer help to others and join online meditation classes.
31 Tips to Boost your Mental Health
According to the WHO, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, handle stress, and how we relate to others. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Here are tips how to boost your mental health by Mental Health America, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental health conditions.