Why Do We Identify Suffering?

Compassion requires introspection, consideration and awareness. Many times suffering is often diminished, concealed, or even refused but the capability to identify suffering is critical to living in a compassionate way. If we practice it, we teach ourselves to become more aware of not only our own experiences but to also be sensitive to the circumstances of others while continuing to observe any suffering that is currently present. It is only then where we can see past the suffering to begin a healing process. Responding to other beings in a compassionate manner means acknowledging that the general human condition can be a bit of a mess. We must take notice of our judgmental thoughts about those around us and try to reject our tendencies to have preconceived notions about why people act in these questionable, messy ways. If we observe any unwillingness within ourselves to let other people be flawed, we can then try to remember that all human beings have these three qualities in common: we all make mistakes, at some point we all have suffering in our lives regardless of circumstance and we desire
To be compassionate towards someone, I must first be aware of who this person is, what they want, and how they are feeling. To act in an ethical manner, I must not only consider my own desires, interests, and self worth but to consider them alongside the desires, interests and self worth of all of those involved, as well. When acting from a place of compassion, not only are you, ethically, considering the desires, interests and feelings of another individual but you are also trying to be of benefit to this person during their time of need. As the theory of Feminine Ethics of Care states, it is in the action that brings out the best of the person being cared for in terms of approaching the individual person as just that, an individual, not a subset of abstract