Empathy is the capacity to resonate with another’s suffering. When we rush to fix, we bypass that resonance; when we remain stuck in it, we cannot move to compassion. Compassionate leaders engage this uniquely human capacity with discernment and boundaries, enabling wise, sustainable compassionate action.

These times challenge us at our core. What does it mean to be human? How do we create a world that supports the thriving of all people and the planet? What distinguishes how we weather the storm isn’t just our individual skill, adaptation, or resolve, but the strength of the communities we belong to.