Overnight, the world has become a place of chaos and uncertainty. We are all struggling in one way or another. Some of us have lost loved ones, opportunities, and even our home countries while a lot of us are reeling with anxiety and fear. During such tumultuous periods, It is important that we take care of ourselves and be a support system for others as well which is what we discuss in this episode. To be a part of someone's pain and absorb some of its impact is not an easy thing to do, it requires a lot of compassion and empathy but both those elements seem to be in short supply considering the way we have all been behaving. As much as we believe (and hope) that we are all naturally compassionate beings, I think for it to seep into our interactions, we have to nurture that instinct and learn to treat our own selves with kindness and generosity before we can learn to be a safe space for others. I discuss all that and more with Elizabeth Svoboda in this episode. We discuss-

• How compassion differs from empathy

Elizabeth Svoboda is the author of What Makes A Hero: The Surprising Science of Selflessness. She is also a science journalist and she has written for publications like the New York Times, Psychology Today, the Washington Post, and Scholastic Choices, and she has even received the Evert Clark/ Seth Payne Award for Young Science Journalists. Her stories have covered a myriad of topics, from the biology of resilience to the psychology of thoroughly modern breakups. Her second book, The Life Heroic: How to Unleash Your Most Amazing Self is meant especially for young heroes-in-training who want to transform their communities.

Resources mentioned during the episode-

Elizabeth Svoboda's Website: https://elizabethsvoboda.com/

Power Of Kindness, Effective Empathy, And Benefits Of Volunteering With Brad Aronson: https://www.kratimehra.com/kindness-effective-empathy-benefits-volunteering/