EMPATHY can CHANGE Your World
Too many of us underestimate the power of being emphatic. We many times feel that empathy is a sign of weakness, that it makes us vulnerable to the outside world. The truth is actually quite the opposite.
According to Dictionary.com Empathy is "the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the emotions, thoughts, or attitudes of another..."
Google AI states "The power of empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, which can lead to many benefits..."
What I'm going to share with you are tactics we can use to implement empathy. to not only change our world, but those around us. Let me explain some areas of our life empathy can assist us with:
Social change - We can demonstrate empathy to help others see the importance of helping others by becoming a philanthropist, volunteering their time as well as participating in community events.
Emotional intelligence - allows us to manage how we show our emotions and recognize their impacts.
Personal growth - Empathy can be a tool for empowerment, as well as loving yourself.. It can help people feel better, have more energy, manage their challenges, and increase their resilience.
Building relationships - Empathy is a vital component of strong, caring relationships, and helping people feel valued. It can also help people feel more comfortable sharing their personal beliefs and life experiences.
Exclusivity and tolerance - Empathy can assist people in appreciating different backgrounds, different cultures, and personal beliefs, and promote a sense of respect for people's individual differences.
Lastly, Conflict resolution - Empathy can help people understand others' point of view, leading to a more constructive dialogue and problem-solving. It doesn't necessarily mean that we agree with their point of view, just that we understand where they are coming from.
Now that we understand the power of empathy, let's put it in practice. Too many of us hear the word empathy, but lack the skills to implement it properly. I would like to tell you a story about...Let me stop for a moment...(this week has been hectic, I thought I would have this set up for you in a matter of hours, not a week)...I tend to write from what I have been through, or have a knowledge about. To be honest, I felt I knew a lot about empathy, but wanted to research it more and convey a message that you can relate to, so my apologies for taking awhile to write this post. So let's continue.
There are times I am stubborn, I believe a lot of us can be when we want something bad enough. This past year, my husband and I saw our dream home, we went and looked at the large 3 bedroom home with a well manicured yard and a few trees and a large shrub, the driveway was made out of bricks that led to the 2 car garage. There was a small pool and a large concrete deck with a built in grill that was very large. We didn't go inside but looked through the windows and saw how immaculate everything looked. I have an settlement, that I thought would go through by now, but you know how courts operate etc.
Well, one day we drove by and the For Sale sign was the word SOLD on it. We were devastated and had hoped it would be ours. So I drove into town and order my Ice coffee, I normally do twice a day, yeah I'm hooked on Dunkin' Donuts. So I ran into a friend of mine and normally she tells me about how her life is going.
That day, she noticed I was sad and not my chipper self, well instead of catching me up on what's going on in her life, She had a curious look on her face, and asked me why I was sad. I explained to her that my husband and I wanted to buy a specific house, and she held my hand and listened to me attentively, asking a question here and there.
After me blabbing to her for 20 minutes non-stop about the house, she said she remembered seeing it and felt bad that we didn't get it. She even had a tear fall down her face, realizing the pain I was in. It felt like she really knew how I felt about no getting that home. I almost felt bad for her, it felt like she wanted that home as well.
To me, she demonstrated the epitome of empathy, She used curiosity to discover my pain and asked open ended questions, and truly acknowledged my feelings. Whenever I need her, she seems to be there for me, not every time, but usually.
I have to say empathy is sorely needed in our world, and that day, I felt saved.
Most Emphatic & Prayers,
Mandie
PS I hope you had an fabulous Thanksgiving :)
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