Idiot Compassion

The Karen Kenney Show

There have been times in my life where I have found myself being overly empathetic and compassionate to a fault. Times where I put up with or made excuses for someone else’s crappy behavior because I didn’t want to upset them or hurt their feelings.

Today on The Karen Kenney Show, we’re talking about what is known in the Buddhist tradition as “Idiot Compassion”. Ha!

Which is a wicked funny way to also describe what is sometimes called “enabling”. Idiot Compassion is the misconception that we’re somehow being loving by avoiding rocking the boat.

Of course it’s good to be compassionate with others and to learn more of their story, so we can understand why they do what they do. However, it’s not actually kind or loving if we keep allowing them to continue hurting themselves, or others around them just because of their past.

Being kind and compassionate is not about being a doormat. Sometimes the most loving thing we can say to someone else is, “No!”.

KK's Key Takeaways

I’ve Made Excuses (6:26)

He’s Such A Jerk (11:41)

Don’t Want To Hurt Their Feelings (16:33)

Need To Have Inner Strength (20:44)

Bitter Medicine VS Poison (25:45)

Karen Kenney is a certified Spiritual Mentor, author, speaker, and the host of The Karen Kenney Show Podcast. She’s also the founder of THE NEST - an online spiritual membership & community.

She’s been a student & guide of A Course in Miracles for close to three decades, a yoga teacher for 20+ years and is a longtime practitioner of Passage Meditation. She’s also a Gateless Writing Instructor & workshop facilitator and is currently working on a memoir.

KK grew up in Lawrence & Boston, MA, and graduated from BU with a degree in Communications. She’s known for her storytelling, her sense of humor, her love of the Divine and her “down-to-earth” practical approach to Spirituality. Her signature process: Your Story to Your Glory™ - helps people transform their old stories of victimization & suffering, so they can choose Love over fear, improve their most important relationships, deepen their connection to Self, Source & Spirit, and live from a place of forgiveness, flow, freedom & fun!

A sought-after speaker, spiritual teacher, and thought leader for podcasts, shows, live events, and mastermind programs, Karen's been invited to speak & teach on various platforms, stages & retreat centers across the country, including the renowned Omega Institute for Holistic Studies.

You can learn more & connect with KK at: www.karenkenney.com