Sharing is never fun. Someone always ends up getting hurt. Wouldn’t it be great if the end of the relationship would be less painful? It seems that a dose of compassion can help relieve pain.

When you think of love in romantic relationships, surely imagine what scholars refer to as passionate love. In addition to that, another feeling is very important in a relationship: compassion. This refers to concern and care for the well-being of others, especially when they are suffering; compassionate love promotes support, understanding, and gentleness.

Of course you can express this love to your partner, but also to family, friends and strangers. When it comes to separations, you can also direct compassion from an ex-partner.

In one study, researchers identified people who had ended a relationship or had been in a relationship that had ended jointly.

Participants initially answered the question of how much compassion they received from ex-partners when the relationship was at its peak. They were then asked how they parted ways with the former. Specifically, they showed how much they used the following strategies:

1. Attraction to oneself and avoidance by the partner

2. Manipulation of the partner

3. Use of a non-personal form of communication

4. Use a positive tone

5. Open attitude towards the partner.

Of the five types of separation mentioned above, the first 3 are the most painful, while the last 2 show respect and empathy for the ex-partner. People who received more compassion during the relationship were more likely to be open and positive towards partners during separations.

The bottom line is that compassion is a good quality, which is very valuable in a relationship. The end of a relationship will be difficult, but the compassion shown by you makes it less painful to be.

Source: Bustle