Compassion and empathy is something not seen on an everyday basis. Some people think that they understand the meaning of compassion, but they have not actually been in a situation that would make them truly understand it. Once put in a situation where you actually realize what empathy and compassion is, your view on the meaning of life completely changes. Your whole perspective of life changes. Joan Halifax explains the true meaning of compassion and empathy in her speech, ” Compassion and the true meaning of empathy”.

She describes her personal experiences dealing with people on their death bed in hospices, which has led her to understand the true meaning of compassion and empathy. People address certain topics for many different reasons, Joan Halifax adresses the topic of compassion due to the fact that she has been put in a situation where she was watching people die in front of her eyes, and it truly had an impact in the way she looked at life. The problem, or the exigence, is that people do not think twice about other people who are suffering or dying.

The smallest things in life that seem like something difficult to deal with, is actually not even that big of problem compared to what others in third world countries are going through. Halifax wants people to respond to her message of compassion, not because its just the right thing to do, but so you can fully understand the value of the life we live. why does Halifax discuss compassion and empathy? From her own experiences of caring for the people on their death bed, and connecting with their families, it changed her life and gave her a new meaning of empathy and compassion.

In the speech, Halfax explains how compassion is extremely good for hte human being, but no one knows the true meaning. If empathy and compassion is so good for us, then why dont health physicians teach their patients compassion? Physicians prescribe all sorts of pills to better their patients health, but the one thig that truly heals a soul and a person is not used as a treatment. So why then do ppeople not bother with understanding compassion and empathy?

There are many people out in the world, very few of them do not think about compassion and empathy because it does not concern them. The intended audience of this speech is anyone who does not understand empathy and compassion. Any adult can claim to know what compassion is, but few of those people actually uses those values of compassion in real life. Also, anyone who has been put in any situation like Joan Halifax’s can most likely appreciate the value of life like she can. o watch someone die in front of your very eyes, is a life changing experience. There is no taking it back, or forgetting about it, once you witness something like that, it will stay with you forever. Anyone who has experienced such a thing has a deeper connection with themselves and with others around them. Anyone who can relate to such a thing has a deeper meaning of life, and of compassion and empathy. Those who have not personally been in a situation that has impacted their life greatly cannot answer or explain the true meaning of compassion.

Halifax explains that everybody has the trait of compassion, but not everyone expresses it, or knows it’s there. She confesses that she has not always had compassion to some extent, but once put in that life altering situation it arose in her. Anyone can experience compassion, it just takes something extraordinary to awaken it in yourself. The way that Halifax presents her speech is passionate, it is something that means a lot to her.

When analyzing compassion there are no limits as to what it could be. People alwaays have the option and ability to feel compassion, and to take the time to understand it, but not everybody decides to do so. People only set limits to themselves, and once you open your miind to experiencing new and meaningful things, those limits are banished. Once those limitatins are extinguished from your mind learning the true meaning of compassion can be easy and understood fully.