I find compassion rather effortless, personally, to the extent where I asked myself a similar question as you recently, Carrot. If someone asks me to do something for them, within reason I'll oblige.
Of course I believe I strike a good balance between being generous and being a pushover, but I'll often drop what I'm doing to help out a friend no matter what I'm doing.
I do sometimes wonder, like you, why I do it. I do things for certain friends that they would rarely do back if I asked (though I tend not to ask big favours anyway), and sometimes I second guess myself and ask what I'm gaining.
Every time, however, I come to the conclusion that it really doesn't bother me in the slightest, and I do get deep personal satisfaction from helping others. Without this intrinsic reward system I don't think there'd be half as many nice people out there.
It sounds cheesy, but once you find pleasure in helping others (within reason, of course, don't go forgetting about your own interests), it becomes so much easier to do.
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