Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition

How Compassion Rewires Your Brain | Professor Paul Gilbert | Be Well Moments

Jan 13, 2025

Discover how practicing compassion can reshape your brain and enhance empathy through neuroplasticity. Explore the courage required to address suffering and the ripple effects on societal well-being. Uncover the foundational elements of compassion, where awareness meets proactive action to create real change. Delve into the complex dynamics of compassion, questioning its prevalence in today's world and emphasizing its importance as a learnable skill.

06:33

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Quick takeaways

Practicing compassion significantly alters brain function through neuroplasticity, enhancing empathy and moral behavior in individuals and society.

Compassion, a complex trait shaped by genetics and experiences, can be cultivated, emphasizing its importance for personal and communal well-being.

Deep dives

The Impact of Compassion on the Brain

Research indicates that practicing compassion can lead to significant changes in the brain, demonstrating the concept of neuroplasticity. Regular engagement in compassionate behaviors activates specific neural circuits, enhancing emotional and moral awareness. Studies have shown that compassion fosters improved functioning of the autonomic nervous system and bolsters the immune system, further contributing to overall health. This suggests that incorporating compassion into daily life not only benefits individual well-being but also offers a pathway to a more empathetic society.

Intro

2min

Understanding the Depths of Compassion

2min

Exploring the Multifaceted Nature of Compassion

3min

Be Well Moments brings you my favorite bite-sized highlights from the season. Enjoy quick insights from our longer conversations in a digestible format. If you'd like to listen or watch the full episode, click the link below.

What if compassion could actually change your brain? Recent breakthroughs in neuroscience reveal that practicing compassion activates neuroplasticity, reshaping the very circuits that govern empathy and moral behavior.

In this illuminating discussion, we explore the profound impact of compassion—not just on individuals, but on society as a whole. From the courage it takes to address suffering to the science behind its power to transform, this conversation delves deep into what it means to be human.

Is compassion the key to building a better world? The answer might surprise you.

Listen to the full episode here.

Watch the full episode on YouTube here.

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