Why Empathy Is Essential: How to Really Cultivate It

Empathy is essential to human existence. Yet, some people are more attuned to their feelings than others. Empathy means putting yourself in someone else’s head to feel what they feel and understand why. Furthermore, you can cultivate empathy.

Why Empathy Is Essential: Ways to Cultivate It

Empathy is essential in all aspects of life. But does it come naturally? Are you born with it? Can you cultivate it?

What Is Empathy?

In brief, empathy is the ability to see things from the other person’s perspective. It allows you to share their emotions and feelings and understand why they feel this way.

It’s been said that most people have empathy – or the ability to empathize with others. The few who aren’t capable of empathy include sociopaths, psychopaths, and narcissists. These people can neither relate to nor understand what others feel or their emotions. Furthermore, they don’t care.

For the rest of us, we are capable of empathy. It may be more that we seldom demonstrate this trait.

Why Empathy Matters

If everyone were indifferent, the world would be cold and harsh. However, not everyone feels confident or comfortable showing their empathic side. This is understandable since people can be cruel, whether intentionally or accidentally.

“I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.” – Maya Angelou.

Why Empathy Is Essential

Empathy is essential in every part of society and daily life. It’s a vital aspect of the world’s most outstanding leaders. When you have empathy, you can relate to others. This includes close friends and family, those you work with, and even strangers. Empathy is a crucial component of what it means to be human.

Empathy Is Essential to Promote Compassion

If you see someone grieving, sad, or miserable, you demonstrate emotional empathy by sharing their emotions.

Compassionate empathy occurs when you act on your feelings. It’s the logical progression from feeling empathy to showing it through your actions.

Empathy Contributes to Emotional Well-Being

Everyone wants to feel fulfilled, productive, and happy and to experience joy in living. To do this, one must have a full complement of emotions, including empathy. Since no two people are identical, even identical twins (because they have their emotional makeup), how they think, their ideas, challenges, experiences, history, and dreams are unique.

Seeing things from others’ perspectives helps round out one’s emotional quotient and contributes to emotional well-being. Empathy is also essential to reducing stress.

Relationships Improve with Empathy

How does empathy improve relationships? Think about developing a friendship, learning to work with others, getting along in school, or even establishing rapport with neighbors. What do these interactions have in common? They all require the ability to show support.

In this context, support means that through your words, body language, and actions, you:

·        Make others feel like they are heard.

·        Mimic or mirror their emotions.

·        See a problem the way they do by showing you share their perspective.

Reduce Conflict with Empathy

Conflicts may occur in the workplace, at home, or school. A minor disagreement can turn into an intense argument. Or, parties can abandon a project or task, believing that further discussion is fruitless. It makes sense to get along with others to achieve consensus and make working or living together possible. Empathy helps you navigate conflict and find solutions.

Supervisors, parents, older siblings, and friends can also practice empathy. You or your demanding boss may push people beyond their limits. Furthermore, you may create hard feelings if you can’t relate to others and see things from their perspective. Here, too, empathy is essential.

Communication is More Effective with Empathy

By understanding what another person feels and why, you can communicate better. When you know why they may be hesitant, their fears, goals, and what drives them, you can tailor your words to:

·        Persuade.

·        Agree.

·        Discuss.

·        Explain.

·        Object.

·        Approve or disapprove.

·        Accept or reject.

·        Mirror.

·        Magnify.

·        See similarities or differences.

·        Make comparisons.

How to Cultivate Empathy

It may seem difficult to believe that you can cultivate empathy. Yet, research suggests you can. If you want to become more empathic toward others, these tips may help.

Meditate

Engage in meditation practice to cultivate empathy. Meditation helps you cultivate brain states that increase empathy.

Interact with Others from Different Backgrounds

Did you know that spending time with people different from you can help you be more empathetic? Research suggests that this does indeed happen.

Immerse Yourself in Reading

You’ll want to learn about others’ perspectives if empathy is essential. Reading, particularly novels, may boost your ability to think like others. Reading helps you experience what others think and believe.

Ways to Improve Empathy

Teaching a younger person to be empathetic is easier than training an adult. Yet, anyone can build empathy. Expect some difficulty at first. However, you will see progress when you explore others’ different opinions. When compromise and consensus become easier, you improve your ability to empathize.