It’s human nature to categorize people into groups, and we often perceive anyone who isn’t part of our group as outsiders. We tend to be compassionate towards those who are like us, and our empathy doesn’t extend much further than that.

However, as we as a society become more diverse, it’s important to extend compassion to everyone, regardless of whether they belong to our group or not. In this article, we’ll explore why extending compassion to outsiders is so important, and how we can start doing so.

The problem with perceiving others as outsiders

When we perceive someone as an outsider, we often perceive them as “other.” This “othering” can lead to feelings of contempt, fear, and hostility towards people we see as different from us.

This is especially true when it comes to issues of race, religion, and sexual orientation. We often dehumanize people who we see as outsiders, leading to a lack of empathy and compassion for them.

This lack of empathy and compassion can have serious consequences. For example, when police officers see black men as outsiders, they are more likely to use force against them.

When employers see job applicants with a religious head covering as outsiders, they are less likely to hire them. When lawmakers see LGBTQ+ people as outsiders, they are less likely to grant them the same rights as everyone else. These consequences can negatively affect individuals and entire communities, leading to a society that is less just and less equitable.

The importance of compassion

Compassion is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It’s the opposite of othering. When we extend compassion to others, we see them as human beings, not as outsiders.

This leads to a greater understanding and empathy for people who are different from us, and can help bridge the divides that exist between us.

Compassion can have a positive impact on both the individual and the wider community. It can lead to greater social cohesion, a sense of belonging, and a more just and equitable society.

Additionally, studies have shown that people who regularly practice compassion tend to have lower levels of stress and anxiety, and are more likely to experience positive emotions like joy and happiness.

How to extend compassion to outsiders

Extending compassion to outsiders is easier said than done. It can be challenging to go against our natural instincts and see people who are different from us as human beings deserving of compassion.

However, there are several strategies we can use to help us start extending compassion to outsiders:.

1. Challenge your assumptions

One of the biggest obstacles to extending compassion to outsiders is our assumptions. We often make assumptions about people based on their race, religion, or other characteristics, without ever getting to know them as individuals.

To challenge these assumptions, we need to be aware of them and actively work to question them. We can do this by exposing ourselves to diverse perspectives, learning about other cultures and religions, and actively seeking out diverse experiences.

By doing so, we can begin to see people as individuals, rather than as representatives of a certain group.

2. Practice empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It’s a key component of compassion, and can help us see people who are different from us as human beings with their own struggles and challenges.

To practice empathy, we need to actively listen to others, try to see things from their perspective, and validate their emotions. We can also try to imagine what it would be like to walk in their shoes, and consider how we would want to be treated if we were in their situation.

3. Look for commonalities

When we focus on differences, it’s easy to see people as outsiders. However, when we look for commonalities, we can begin to see people as part of a larger human family. We all have hopes, fears, dreams, and struggles.

We all want to be happy and live fulfilling lives. By focusing on these commonalities, we can see people who are different from us as individuals with whom we share a common humanity.

4. Extend kindness

Kindness is one of the simplest and most effective ways to extend compassion to others. It can be as simple as holding the door open for someone, smiling at a stranger, or offering a word of encouragement.

When we extend kindness, we create positive ripples that can spread far beyond the individual act itself. Additionally, when we are kind to others, we tend to feel happier and more connected to the world around us.

Conclusion

Extending compassion to outsiders is essential if we want to create a more just and equitable society.

It requires us to move beyond our natural tendencies to categorize and other people, and to see them as human beings with their own struggles and challenges. By challenging our assumptions, practicing empathy, looking for commonalities, and extending kindness, we can begin to extend compassion to everyone, regardless of whether they belong to our group or not.