WORKSHOP: 2016-04-16 INTRO HCD
Interviewer: Sascha
Interviewee: Edwin
Text below:
S: Tell me a story where you felt a strong surge of empathy lately
E: My partner Joan, she thinks it’s crazy that I work with empathy, she just wants to talk normally, but when we talk normally she does all the talking, and she is right and I can sit and empathize and it never ends. So I did an empathy circle with her and she spoke for 30 minutes. Now she is actually when we sit at dinner and she suggests to do empathic reflection, and I speak for 15 minutes and she is reflecting, and it’s really great. There is this space I have now without worrying that she will jump in and we take turns. It’s great.
She shares when I’m driving her to work and it helps her, and she is coming around. It’s improving the relationship
I really like it.
There is a feeling of space when she just listens. It’s very relaxing. I feel tense when she is talking and it fills the space and I can’t get heard.
S. Where do you think empathy is most needed?
E: We need it everywhere, we need an empathic way of being. Increase that spaciousness in the whole culture. It’s just so beneficial.
When is there no empathy at all?
E: I can empathize with anybody but then I just want to shut down and share my own frustration and listen to that. I just want to be able to curse someone out and for them to say ok you’re sick of me, I hear that. I want to just be able for them to hear it and somebody empathize with me.
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