Most people do not realize that compassion changes the brain. When we choose compassion, something measurable happens in the body. The vagus nerve activates, our breath slows, our heart rate steadies, and the prefrontal cortex becomes more engaged. This is the part of the brain responsible for clarity, emotional regulation, and wise decision making. Compassion shifts us out of fight or flight and into the relaxation response. It softens the tone of our voice. It reduces the pressure inside the c