Recently I was asked in an interview what value most strongly guides my life. My response? COMPASSION.
Specifically, expanding my circle of compassion to include myself, others, all sentient beings, and our planet.
Compassion guided my decision to become a clinical psychologist and to empower others’ healing journeys. It guided me to become vegetarian and then later vegan, when I realized the cruelty and suffering inherent in animal agriculture. It led me to be more aware of social justice issues and the destruction of our environment – and to want to make more compassionate choices for the flourishing of all.
As humans, we are biologically wired for compassion, but many of us have learned to compartmentalize our compassion – often extending it only to select races, types of people, or species of animals. We have compassion for people who are “like us,” but often exclude those who are from different cultures or who hold different views.
And when it comes to animals, most of us love our companion animals, such as dogs and cats, but turn a blind eye to the animals who are part of our food system (pigs, cows, chickens, turkeys, and sea creatures) or who are used in research or other industries.
Compassion is a guiding principle of most spiritual, religious, and ethical systems. It literally means “to suffer together.” It is the empathic awareness of others’ distress or suffering, along with a desire to alleviate that suffering. From early times, great thinkers, philosophers, and teachers have advocated the importance of compassion for all beings to create a more humane, peaceful, and healthy society – leaders such as Pythagoras, Leonardo DaVinci, Leo Tolstoy, Albert Einstein, and Gandhi.
To be compassionate is not only good for others and our society, but also healthy for us on a personal level. Research finds that it is associated with better physical and emotional well-being, better relationships, and improved social and emotional skills.
Those of us who are empaths may sometimes fear that connecting with our compassion will overwhelm us – especially when there is so much suffering in our world. It is important to include ourselves in our circle of care and compassion. This brings a grounded well-being and mindful presence from which to extend our kindness and support.
While we don’t have the power individually to solve the vast problems in our world, by connecting with our compassion, and joining forces with others who share our concerns, together we can make a difference. In my view, awakening and cultivating our collective compassion is paramount for healing our selves, our world, and the many challenging issues of our time.
Compassion was a central theme that arose in my book research about the transformative impact of a vegan lifestyle for mind, body, and spirit. (My book is due to be published in early 2025 by Lantern Publishing).
To read the full article / interview in Shoutout DFW about the healing power of compassion and my personal journey, CLICK HERE.
With 25 years of experience as a licensed psychologist, Angela Crawford, Ph.D. is passionate about the power of a plant-powered, vegan lifestyle for human health; compassion for all sentient beings; and caring for our planet. She recently researched and wrote a book on the transformative impact of a vegan lifestyle for mind, body, and spirit, due to be published in 2025.
As a Vegan Lifestyle Educator, she offers resources that empower people to shift to a plant-powered lifestyle for better health and emotional well-being. In addition, she mentors vegans to flourish emotionally, find their authentic voice, and express their unique gifts toward creating a healthier and more compassionate world.
She holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and previously worked as a psychotherapist for over two decades. She holds certifications in Plant-Based Nutrition, and as a Master Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator, Transformational Coach, and EMDR practitioner.
Angela Crawford, Ph.D 