Compassion Contract

Imagine living in a community where everyone you interact with has endorsed a shared set of agreements that guide how to treat one another. 

We view our Compassion Contract as a social contract that creates collective agreements for how we engage with others and with our self. By signing your own Compassion Contract, you may find yourself bringing a little more compassion to your interactions in the world. 

The Tenets

Be respectful

Treating someone with respect does not mean you agree with them, it just means you recognize their right to their opinion and to be treated with dignity.

1
Listen to understand

Pay attention to verbal and nonverbal communication in an effort to comprehend where the other person is coming from. Eliminate distractions and prepare to listen with your ears and your heart.

2
Act with good intentions

Communication can get messy. When your intentions are good, you can work through conflict and preserve trust in your relationship.

3
Support ideas with evidence and experience

Be honest, cite your sources, and be truthful about information you give others.

4
Disagree without being disagreeable

Don’t be nasty. Even if you really disagree with someone, remember the golden rule. You can’t control what others say or do. You can control how you respond.

5
Critique the idea not the person

Communicate your disagreement with a concept without making the personal attacks.

6
Invite wonder

Get curious. Ask questions. Dig in.

7

Sign your
Compassion Contract



Are you a member of a company, school, city council, house of worship, or any organization that benefits when people treat one another with dignity and respect? Add your organization to our Compassion Endorsement List.

Add your organization to our Compassion Endorsement List by uploading your logo.


Download Printable Copy