S4 Ep12: Empathy Empowers - Given or Received
Empathy can better the world around us
The holiday season has begun. This can be extremely difficult for many, stirring up a host of wildly different emotions.
How we feel the emotions we feel differs. Feelings have both a how and why to them. Depth, sensation, the actual way in which we feel things varies from person to person. This boils down to every single emotion because we’re all individuals.
However, the similarities in what these emotions are shouldn’t be ignored or disregarded. And, further, nobody’s emotions and how/what of feelings are greater or lesser than anyone else’s.
Empathy is for everyone
Empathy seldom stands alone. It frequently tags along with kindness and compassion.
The world we live in today is rocked by so much fear, and so many messages of scarcity and lack. Apart from more accountability, the one thing that I think would be of tremendous help to the world would be more empathy.
Empathy allows you to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. This is where some confuse this for sympathy. I can best describe it thus: sympathy is saying, “Wow, I’m so sorry you are going through that,” whereas empathy is saying, “I see how you’re feeling, and I desire to understand your feelings.”
Gaining understanding
Empathy is understanding, and I think we need a lot more of that in this world.
Feeling empathy towards other people is how we build bridges and create the best world we can. Empathy is where we can see that this is a world of abundance with room for more prosperity and good for everyone.
When you see the terrible things happening in the world at large, consider your response. Can you empathize with people who are suffering? I think that if we find and feel more empathy, we can do a whole lot more to make this world a better place for everyone.
But first, we must empathize with ourselves.
Empathy for health, wellness, and wellbeing
Human beings have 4 elements to their health: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. If one is out of balance, they all tend to be unbalanced.
When you apply empathy to yourself you become more empowered. That can be more readily turned outward. Before you know it, you can be more empathetic towards others.
Mindfulness is key to empathy, as well as kindness and compassion.
You’re worthy and deserving of empathy. Experiencing optimum health, wellness, and wellbeing is right for all.
This week’s Applied Guidance for Mindfulness Tool:
Let’s apply mindfulness to check on your present mindset.
This one might be a challenge if everyone around you is largely okay. So it might not be immediately applicable.
If someone you know is suffering in any way – can you put yourself in their shoes? Can you imagine in your mind’s eye what they’re thinking and feeling? From there, can you picture what it would be like to be going through whatever they’re going through – even if it’s something you disagree with or take issue with, in any way?
Write this down. However, write it down as if you are that person. “I’m thinking about ‘x’” and “I’m feeling ‘y’” and the like, in first person.
Read what you wrote down. How does this make you feel?
This is a way to practice empathy. However, please note – empathy in no way means you can help another that doesn’t want help. It gives you a perspective that can be applied to others and yourself, which can lead to more kindness and compassion all around.
The world can never have too much kindness, compassion, and empathy.
Blogs: titaniumdon.com and mjblehart.medium.com
Original cover art artist Fe Mahoney: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TaliasInspirations