In the Media: Compassion and Why It Matters Today

Why do we not take every opportunity to help others?

According to Daniel Goleman, author of "Emotional Intelligence”, research has shown our default is to help others however, we are so often pre-occupied by our own world, challenges and goals to truly see others with compassion and engagement. In his provocative TED talk below, discover the many factors that impact our ability to be compassionate and why it matters.

In the video, Golemant says “But all it took was that simple act of noticing”. This leads us to question, how can truly engaging in the world around us change our levels of compassion? Is there a way to nurture deeper levels of compassion in our students and could this be a solution to elements of the many social challenges facing our world today?

In Waldorf Education, community, observation and engagement lie at the core of our work. You’ll find each classroom operating as its own community within the greater whole and you’ll find all of our classes engaged with the world around them. Whether on biology discovering sessions in the middle school or silent nature walks in the 1st grade, observing the world around them is a core curriculum element. This balance, between community development and outward engagement can be seen in our graduates who attest to the grounding they feel as compassionate individuals in our world.

While we know there is no magic remedy, we’ve seen how students are impacted not only by these elements but also by the compassion and kindness that they are met with when interacting with every adult on our campus. We’ve found that the presence of role models demonstrating compassion can have a profound impact on their behavior. Just as Goleman says in the video “The moment I stopped, half a dozen other people immediately ringed the same guy.” Demonstrating the ripple effect of compassion and the profound impact it can have on ourselves and the world around us.

Please note: this video includes language and stories not appropriate for children. Please grab your headphones before you watch if children are around.