Compassion for self and others as key aspects of well-being in changing times

Abstract

Compassion has been put forth as a core concept in caring science, although there has also been a debate over whether it is a nonprofessional sentiment or not. In this theoretical article, I reflect on compassion not only for others but also for oneself as being important for patients' as well as professionals' well-being. My reflections on compassion as being essential in caring are grounded not only in caring science but also in research from other disciplines, as a means of exploring why we need compassion in caring from different perspectives. My conclusion is that in changing times, where patients as well as caregivers are confronted with challenges in life, compassion for self as well as others must be acknowledged as pivotal in relation to well-being and care.