Phi Alpha Delta

Issue #1, 2018 — The Reporter 3 Message from the International Justice Compassion leads a lawyer to accept the cause of the unfortunate, the underprivileged, and those who are the o b j e c t o f s c o r n a n d public disfavor. (Book of the Ritual, page 10) In the last Reporter I talked about our core value of Courage, but I also touched on a second core value, Compassion. Most explanations of compassion's meaning focus on the Western definition: a strong sympathy and sadness for the suffering or the misfortunes of others (Oxford Dictionary). However, while it certainly defines the word, it does not go very far in defining the effect that it may have on a person. What is compassion? Or more specifically what are the elements of compassion? In the Journal of Happiness Studies (yes, there is an academic journal for happiness), a Stanford University team, led by Hooria Jazaieri, studying compassion published a paper based on their randomized controlled trial of a compassion cultivation training program. Jazzaieri et.al., defined compassion as "…a multidimensional process comprised of four key components: (1) an awareness of suffering (cognitive/ empathic awareness), 2) sympathetic concern related to being emotionally moved by suffering (affective component), (3) a wish to see the relief of that suffering (intention), and (4) a responsiveness or readiness to help relieve that suffering (motivational)" (Hooria Jazaieri, Enhancing Compassion: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Compassion Cultivation Training Program, Journal of Happiness Studies (2012).) The four key components of compassion, as identified by the Stanford team, are embodied in the passage from the Book of the Ritual noted above. In its basic form compassion is helping another who is suffering. Whether it is donating money to a disaster relief organization, volunteering at an animal shelter, working at a pro-bono clinic, or mentoring others, all of these activities demonstrate compassion. P.A.D. members regularly demonstrate our core value of Compassion through extraordinary public service programs. But is that all compassion is about? I say no. If we look to the Eastern definition of compassion, we see the element that is missing from the Western's definition, compassion to the self. "In many Buddhist traditions, however, it is considered equally important to offer compassion to the self " (Brach, 2003; Feldman, 2005; Salzberg, 2005). To give compassion to others but not the self, in fact, is seen drawing artificial distinctions between self and others that misrepresent our essential interconnectedness (Hahn, 1997). From this point of view self-compassion is simply compassion directed inward (Neff &Pommier, 2012). You may wonder why I bring compassion to oneself up. In May 2017, The Wall Street Journal published an article about an enduring problem of the legal profession—psychological distress. Article after article, study after study for decades have noted that the legal profession leads most occupations in rates of serious psychological afflictions, depression, substance abuse, and suicide. While as professionals, we may embrace the cause of helping others who are suffering or enduring misfortune, we rarely turn the magnifying glass inward to our own suffering and seek real help. There are many reasons for this "blindness," most are based in fear. The fear of losing a job, the fear of being disbarred, the feeling of being an outcast, the fear of "______." "Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self- compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings—after all, who ever said you were supposed to be perfect?" (Dr. Kristin Neff)" Over the years I have heard many criticisms of self-compassion, it is self-pity, it is self-indulgent, and it is self-esteem. Self-compassion is none of these, it is simply acknowledging that you are having a rough time, showing yourself mercy, and taking steps to cure what is causing your pain in a healthy manner. Or putting it another way—by allowing yourself to feel self-compassion, you are advocating for your most important client, yourself. Fraternally, Kathleen "Kitty" Maloney

• Cover