Developing greater awareness of ones own feelings.
A self-empathy then helps to be aware of an empathize with others feelings.
Focusing by Gene Gendlin as a way of deepening self empathy.
Key to Empathy May Be in Knowing Yourself
"A new study finds that when we are taught to identify and understand our own inner parts, or sub-personalities — such as the “inner manager” or the “inner child” we become far more understanding of the mental states of others, essentially increasing our levels of social intelligence and empathy."
"INITIAL FOCUS ON ONE'S OWN FEELINGS. When seeking to increase the ability of children to assume another's perspective, it is most fruitful to have them focus first on their own feelings--the different kinds of feelings they have and what feelings are associated with what kinds of situations (Black and Phillips 1982; and Dixon 1980)." (Cotton 1992)*