Practical Wisdom with Dr. Rick Hanson Wise and Courageous Compassion for Others – and Yourself
Mar 25, 2026
A talk about expanding compassion beyond mere tenderness into wise, firm, and courageous care. Discussions include fierce compassion that can be intense without malice, when to make others uncomfortable for the greater good, and setting authentic boundaries. There is practical attention to self-compassion as standing up for yourself, handling mean or aggressive people, and balancing love with anger in relationships.
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Hold Compassion And Speak Your Truth
- Practice resting in compassion that is morally serious while also addressing the person directly for justice.
- Hanson guides imagining a conflict, holding compassion and healthy entitlement to speak your truth concurrently.
Apply Duty Of Care To Your Future Self
- Treat self-compassion as a duty of care to your future self and act for who you are becoming.
- Use that duty to decide what to let go of and what to add for long-term wellbeing.
Compassion Is Optional And Scalable
- You are not required to feel compassion for abusers; compassion is optional and has two parts: empathy for suffering and a benevolent response.
- Starting with easier cases helps expand your capacity without excusing harm.