“Strong compassion” — I’m not even sure what it is yet, but I like it. It’s a bit redundant because real compassion is strong. But, I include “strong” because people are afraid of compassion — people are afraid of weakness and they are suspicious that compassion is weakness.
What flows from compassion is kindness, acceptance, forgiveness, care — the good stuff. Non-trivial compassion requires openness and vulnerability and courage. Strong compassion could be called fierce compassion.
Tough love should be re-named compassionate truth. Or bravely compassionate love, or something like that. The “tough” part of the phrase “tough love” re-assures us that we are not being weak or somehow too soft. The “tough” part sells the love part to those who fear love is weak, or who don’t want to love after all and who really want the “love” part of the phrase to sell the “tough” part. Tough love, can be an excuse for being callous or defensive, in the guise of something else.
Strong compassion is your antidote for these pitfalls. Yes we can be both strong and compassionate. After all, don’t the examples that come to mind of real compassion usually also show great strength?
Strong compassion: you can be a tough guy AND be soft.
Strong compassion: it’s more than just kindness or politeness, it’s a powerful essence of a caring foundation.
Strong compassion: developing it takes bravery.
Strong compassion: it’s a muscle, you can build it with practice.
Strong compassion: it’s loving and powerful.
Strong compassion: let’s go for it!
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