John Makransky is a professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College, AND ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist lama. Paul Condon is an associate professor of psychology at Southern Oregon University and a research fellow at the Mind & Life Institute. Both are the authors of How Compassion Works: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cultivating Well-Being, Love, and Wisdom.
Episode cheatsheet
The big takeaway
John Makransky and Paul Condon present a practical case for compassion as the antidote to today’s climate of anger, burnout, and overwhelm. Drawing on psychological science and ancient Buddhist wisdom, they argue that compassion doesn’t make you weak—it brings you home to your fundamental nature, makes you happier, and supercharges your effectiveness (even during tough times). Their approach, called “sustainable compassion training,” offers a refreshing, accessible path to inner warmth and outward connection.
Compassion as the superpower for resilience: key takeaways
Our “factory setting” is compassion: Humans are evolutionarily and developmentally wired to thrive in caring, warm environments—not in constant defense or hostility.
Compassion is not just for others: Cultivating inner warmth is essential for personal well-being and makes us less reactive in stressful situations, including conflict and burnout.
It’s not about forcing yourself to be kind: The process starts by reconnecting with supportive memories, safe spaces, or benefactors to restore your natural capacity for compassion.
From self-improvement to self-acceptance: Rather than just a lonely grind (“muscling up” kindness), sustainable compassion training emphasizes receptivity, relaxation, and genuine self-holding to produce lasting change.
6 practical tips for bringing compassion into everyday life:
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