The Passion and the Wall of Jericho: A Bipolar Reflection on Compassion

Description: Andrew Osei (Founder of BIGSIX MEDIA and NAV BRANDING) reflects on the complex, codependent concepts of passion and compassion in his personal essay, "The Compassion Hypothesis." He breaks down the three core definitions of passion (Emotion, Love, Suffering) and links them to his experience managing bipolar disorder. Through candid, anecdotal accounts, Osei confronts his "impenetrable" emotional skin and the difficulty of truly 'suffering with' others, relating his emotional defence mechanisms to the Roman soldiers in The Passion of the Christ. The essay concludes with a look at how deep-seated pain and trauma have forced him to build personal "walls of Jericho," defining a philosophy of fierce loyalty and equally fierce retribution.

Key Takeaways:

Themes: Mental health, bipolar disorder, self-reflection, spirituality, trauma, compassion, personal philosophy, self-critique.