Empathy
Showing empathy can have amazing effects on others when they are troubled. Empathy is showing that you understand another. You put yourself in their shoes so to speak, and it allows you to connect deeply with them. It is a trait needed for successful relationships.
Empathy can be learned.
How can we be empathetic? Listen and understand where others are coming from. It may require patience and attention. If needed, gently ask questions to clarify the feelings and issues. It is almost like you are having the same problem. Share your own experiences if needed, but be careful, don’t make it about you. Also, be careful about your own biases, assumptions and judgments; they may block being fully empathetic. Empathy is not always about giving advice or cheering up or solving a problem, it is about projecting understanding. Simply showing understanding can be important and helpful. Show interest through questions and body language.
Some empathetic comments include: Oh, I can see how that is troubling. Tell me more about how you feel about that. What do you mean? What would be helpful? Can I do something? Do you want to meet again and talk more about this?
Sympathy is not the same as empathy. Sympathy says I hear you and know that you are in pain. But empathy says I feel your pain. Both are important but I think empathy has the edge.
Empathetic skills can be explored further with others or with readings on the internet or with books. It is worth practicing this.
Information for this essay was partially from the following, all accessed on 4/28/2024.
https://www.betterup.com/blog/habits-of-empathetic-people
https://katekenfield.com/articles/antiempathy
https://www.inc.com/melody-wilding/7-habits-of-highly-empathetic-people.html
Kuhar M, The Art and Ethics of Being a Good Colleague, Amazon, 2020, p 101