Putting yourself in someone’s shoes does not mean Empathy for a simple reason: it would be still you wearing shoes which do not belong to you!
That reinforces the idea of bringing our perception of reality, based on our own experiences, beliefs, values, and memories, to someone with an entirely different setup.
And that’s why most of our advice, based on things that worked for us, will not necessarily work for others.
In a world where everything is fast, and people are less willing to create a bond with others, most of them, in conversations, do not actively listen to others but instead are ready to answer, or even worse: to interrupt them while they are still speaking.
And this is a basic premise of Empathy: being genuinely interested in listening to someone to understand them truly.
What then could we do to practice Empathy? Find some tips below:
✔ Listen carefully, with a genuine intention of understanding
✔ Leave your judgment aside
✔ Be present, stay away from distractions
✔ Offer what you have the most valuable when talking to someone: your attention
✔ Validate their emotions and feelings
✔ Make an effort to understand how they feel
✔ Ask them what they would like you to do for them (not what you think would be the best thing for them to do)
✔ If the person doesn’t want you to do something for them, respect and do not insist; your presence may be enough for them
In addition to improving communication, emotional intelligence, and relationships, Empathy can also teach how to be supportive of the other.
For that, it’s necessary to create a safe space where everyone does not feel judged and has their voices heard.
Empathy is listening to understand things as if through someone else’s sight.
Empathy is a social-emotional ability that can be developed! Need help getting started? I’m just one message away! Click now here!
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About me: I’m a High-Performance Coach who uses a Neuroscience-based method to support you in Achieve More with Mental Well-Being.
