Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator

Andy McNeilly

Relationship based Education (RbE) – Compassion

 

John Hendry will be running a free parent session in person on RbE at our school NEXT WEEK. 

Tuesday 9th August at 7.30pm.

Click here to make a booking. 

 

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Dalai Lama.

 

Dear Families,

 

Last week, I met John Hendry for a coffee to talk about the parent session we’ve organised. It was meant to be a short chat to finalise the details of the evening, but once again, I was captivated by his stories and passion for relationships. I know when I meet with him, time always seems to stand still, as he is such an engaging person. I love hearing his stories about his successes as a cricketer, and about how sports performance is so strongly connected to relationships. And, they are also strongly connected to academic performance and resilience. 

 

As you know, John Hendry OAM has been working with us with Relationship based Education (RbE). He talks about the five key elements of a relationship: trust, forgiveness, integrity, hope, and compassion. John’s work has the full endorsement of Parents Victoria. On the Parents Victoria website, there is some great information about John’s work with us here at OGPS. Click here to find out more.

 

Compassion is the understanding that we all make mistakes. Compassion is accepting this in ourselves and in the people with whom we are in relationship. Compassion is the gift of care to others and to ourselves. It is also the intention to create good rather than harm in the world.

John Hendry OAM

 

Compassion is the final element of a relationship that forms the basis of Relationship based Education. Compassionate people may see the suffering of others and want to help them in some way. The word comes from the Latin ‘compassio’, which means to suffer together. Benefits of being compassionate may include a boost to our health and longevity as well as uplifting others around us. Some believe being compassionate can even make us more attractive! Here are a few fun ideas you might like to do at home to help foster the skill of compassion.

  • Phone a relative or friend that you haven’t talked to in a while.
  • Find some clothes or toys that you don’t want anymore and donate them to a charity or give them to an op shop.
  • Think about someone you have noticed who hasn’t been as happy as they usually are. Do something kind for them to cheer them up.
  • Next time you are at work or school, talk to someone you normally don’t talk to.
  • Cook a meal or a sweet treat and give it to someone else. 

 

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” Dalai Lama.

 

Andy McNeilly

Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator