We need a basic and graduated definition of empathy.
My definition revolved around the awareness of the feelings.
An awareness and sensitivity of our feelings.
We have an ongoing felt experience of the world.
A sharing and integration of these feelings
Creating space for actions to emerge out of this integration.
Empathy Circle is an effective way of a mutual empathic way of being
Experiencing - felt experience of living. It is an authentic reference to meaning.
we have a flow of ongoing feelings.
empathy is moving into the felt meaning
an opening up of feeling that may be closed off,
different feelings demand attention.
We have a flow of visceral experiencing going on in our bodies. We can also be aware of the flow of visceral experiencing going on in other bodies as well.
We have an awareness of that flow and and when we use words we can tell if they match with those feelings.
Entering the felt world of the other, sensitive moment to moment of the flow and changes of their feelings.
Feelings change
Every moment of feeling is unique as every snowflake is.
There may be the feeling of fear for example, but every moment of fear has difference shades and combinations of feelings. So fear is a general pattern of experience. No two moments of fear will be exactly the same.
The listening creates space for the speaker to being expressing their feelings. Slowly developing greater trust to open and reveal more and more.
Often in society, there is a competition for being heard, seen and felt. The feelings are suppressed with judgement, put downs, ignoring, taking of awareness, etc. Inhibiting others feelings with instilling fear.
communicating your sencings of what the person says and feels.
We are also matching the words with the experience. The words to not always fit the experience, they can be refined to get closed to matching the felt experience.
How might we describe the felt experience of taking part in an empathy circle?
I feel uncertain of the best way to work with a group on this?
Create an outline of actions or exercises to do.
Feeling into
Imaginative empathy, role taking.
Relational Empathy, an overall awareness of the felt experience of the whole.
How might we deepen our awareness and authentic expression of felt experience?
Rogers
Feelings
Listen for the feelings behind the words.
Listening to feelings is complex,
The quality of the listening
Has benefits
fosters change
fosters learning
Topics
We are biologically wired for empathy and it is an innate quality in all people. We are constantly empathizing every day.
Many blocks to empathy.