Avoidance Quote by Joanna Macy
“Compassion literally means to feel with, to suffer with. Everyone is capable of compassion, and yet everyone tends to avoid it because it's uncomfortable. And the avoidance produces psychic numbing - resistance to experiencing our pain for the world and other beings.”
About This Quote
Source Book: "Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We Inherit and Still Find a Way Forward" by Joanna Macy, 2013
Compassion involves sharing others' suffering, but many avoid it due to discomfort, leading to emotional numbness and resistance to pain.
In simple terms: Feeling others' pain is hard, so we often shut down.
Key Takeaway
Practice staying present with discomfort.
Themes
empathy
psychology
humanity
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- counseling
- conflict resolution
- social work
- personal growth
Key Concepts
emotional resonance
psychic numbing
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you stay open to others' pain without feeling overwhelmed?
- What practices help you move from numbness to compassionate action?
A Different Perspective
Avoidance can reinforce isolation and hinder healing.
![“As we increasingly become aware of the One Life breathing in each brother form of life, we learn the meaning of compassion, which literally means to 'suffer with' ... How does [the] self cause the desire which causes suffering?...by the illusion of separateness, the unawareness of One.” quote by Christmas Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/991/christmas-humphreys-37534_breathing_as-we-increasingly-become-aware-of-the-o_2340503.jpg)
