The Balanced Path: An Open Heart Without Taking on Suffering

Source https://zenhabits.net/balanced/

By Leo Babauta

I’ve had a few emails from readers who ask me how to be compassionate towards other people without taking on all of their suffering. Opening your heart to another person can be emotionally taxing if you are feeling all of their pain.

It’s an incredible question, because it shows:

  1. An intention to be compassionate and have an open heart; and
  2. An awareness that boundaries are needed when we connect with others

So let’s take a look at both of those briefly before we talk about how to balance the openheartedness with emotional boundaries.

An Intention to Be Compassionate & Open-Hearted

It can be difficult to feel open-hearted to other people when they behave in frustrating ways, or have views that are pretty different from ours. But even when that’s not the case, keeping your heart open and being compassionate when others are suf…

Source https://zenhabits.net/balanced/

By Leo Babauta

I’ve had a few emails from readers who ask me how to be compassionate towards other people without taking on all of their suffering. Opening your heart to another person can be emotionally taxing if you are feeling all of their pain.

It’s an incredible question, because it shows:

  1. An intention to be compassionate and have an open heart; and
  2. An awareness that boundaries are needed when we connect with others

So let’s take a look at both of those briefly before we talk about how to balance the openheartedness with emotional boundaries.

An Intention to Be Compassionate & Open-Hearted

It can be difficult to feel open-hearted to other people when they behave in frustrating ways, or have views that are pretty different from ours. But even when that’s not the case, keeping your heart open and being compassionate when others are suf…

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