James Kirby: Why Compassion Can Change the World

Into the Magic Shop

How can you be more compassionate? James Kirby is a lecturer and a clinical psychologist at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, he's also been a fellow at the Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, but more importantly, he does incredible research in the area of compassion.

“If we choose compassion, we're choosing to try to be helpful to someone, or ourselves. We're choosing to help ourselves in a way that will make things slightly easier.”

James has also recently published a book called Choose Compassion: Why It Matters and How It Works, and in this episode of Into The Magic Shop, he debunks the myth that compassion is simply a feeling and shows us how compassion is a motivational force with a physiological impact, and that it can not only shape our behavior, but it can impact our relationships with others, and ultimately change the world. He also explains how you can bring a little compassion into your everyday life.

“Nothing is more powerful than when you have helped another person and you're reminded of it. It makes you feel so good. And when you think about those types of feelings, it can add more motivation to your future actions.”

To learn more, download and listen today.

On today’s podcast:

• Difference between empathy and compassion
• Why humans evolved to be compassionate
• Connections between parenting and compassion
• How to bring compassion into your everyday

Links:

• Podcast - Alphabet of the Heart
• Book - Choose Compassion: Why it matters and how it works