The Power of Life and Misplaced Compassion
By Oluwole Solanke (PhD, FCIB)
In a world often defined by fast-paced living and fleeting priorities, life remains the most priceless gift of all. It pulses in our veins, beats in our chests, and gives us countless opportunities to start again, to forgive, to build, to impact, and to be impacted. But in the same breath, misplaced compassion—the kind that seems noble on the surface but destructive underneath—can erode the very essence of life we are called to cherish and protect.
The Power of Life
Life is not just about existence. It’s about essence. It’s the spark in a child’s laughter, the hope in a widow’s prayer, the strength in a recovering addict, and the purpose in a dreamer’s steps. Life is resilient. It has the ability to rise after defeat, to bloom after a storm, and to speak even when the world goes silent.
There’s power in choosing life—choosing to live fully, choosing to forgive, choosing to be kind, choosing to protect what is sacred. Every moment offers us the choice to build or break, to give or take, to light a path or cast a shadow.
When we honour the gift of life, we honour the Giver. We say, “Yes” to purpose, to growth, to healing. And in doing so, we often become the light that helps others find their own way out of the dark.
The Trap of Misplaced Compassion
Compassion is one of humanity’s greatest virtues. But when compassion loses its direction, it becomes dangerous. Misplaced compassion is when we extend sympathy or mercy in ways that enable destruction, tolerate injustice, or excuse wrongdoing—all in the name of being kind.
It’s the parent who hides their child’s addiction instead of confronting it. The friend who shields a cheating spouse out of loyalty, not truth. The leader who fails to discipline wrongdoing to preserve “peace.” Misplaced compassion sacrifices long-term wellness for short-term comfort. It seeks to please instead of heal. And worst of all, it can cause silent suffering in others who are affected by the wrongs we fail to correct.
This kind of compassion is not kindness—it’s complicity. It’s like watering weeds hoping they’ll turn into flowers. But no matter how much love we pour in, weeds still choke the life out of the garden.
When Compassion Aligns with Truth
True compassion is bold. It says the hard things in love. It confronts dysfunction. It protects the weak. It draws lines in the sand not out of hatred, but out of a higher sense of justice and care. True compassion may cause temporary pain, but it leads to lasting peace.
The story of life and compassion is incomplete without truth. Love without truth is sentimentalism. Truth without love is cruelty. But when love and truth walk hand in hand, transformation begins.
A Call to Courage
In this age of blurred lines and moral compromise, we must be people who celebrate life fiercely and wield compassion wisely. Let’s not shy away from necessary confrontations. Let’s not enable people to destroy themselves or others under the guise of kindness. Let’s be brave enough to say “no” when silence would have been easier, and “yes” when stepping up could cost us something.
Life is too precious to waste on pretenses. And compassion is too powerful to misdirect.
So, live boldly. Love wisely. And never let misplaced compassion rob the world of the power and beauty that your life—and the lives of others—can bring.
