Empathy

Empathy is Key to Why We Do Good.

From getting along with our family in the tiny private sphere, to collaborating with fellows and working in the corporate world, to voicing opinions in the public realm and global interaction, we often have distinctive viewpoints. Thus, disputes appear. How can we solve this common situation? Empathy is the answer.

The practice of empathy enables us to recognise, if someone is in the same situation, how others would feel. All parties are equally enriched when we perceive and respond to each other with empathy. Empathy changes the way we see the world. Not only must we be concerned with how we are feeling, but we also need to understand the people around us. Empathy can lead to a shift in perspectives, from seeing others from the outside to how we are trying to look at the world through others’ eyes. As we enhance empathy across groups, we create communities that are cohesive, caring, and successful.

In this video, Dorothy will tell us why we need empathy and its importance. Since knowing the need for empathy is just the beginning, do spend some time to develop your empathy by talking yourself into being curious to understand other people, rather than rejecting differences.

Einfühlung - “feeling into”

Empathy brings understanding. Understanding bridges differences. Differences in effective communication allow people to shine in their own ways. Empathy is the ability, or a shift in perspective, to identify and understand others’ feelings and motives. Such power of entering into another’s personality and imaginatively experiencing others’ experiences helps us to thrive as a society where human’s potential is unleashed and we appreciate diversity in harmony.

There are three types of empathy defined by psychologists like Daniel Goleman: Cognitive, Emotional, and Compassionate Empathy. Empathy is developed through these three stages. So, what are the different types/levels of empathy and how are these levels interconnected in terms of helping us to better connect with one another?

Have you ever felt totally misunderstood by others, or even simply needed someone to talk to? Perhaps you were needing a dose of empathy. To learn more about what exactly empathy is, Dorothy will give a wider perspective on it.

Born with it? No, more than just a natural trait.

Everything starts with ourselves. To cultivate the ability to understand others’ feelings and create a safe space for others to feel their own emotions, we can always refer to Theresa Wiseman’s four qualities of empathy. It provides a framework for us to develop empathy in order to feel connected and heard.

Emotions call for action. The four attributes come together as:

1. Perspectives-taking (Emotional awareness)

2. Stay out of judgment (Emotional connection)

3. Be curious and recognize emotions (Acknowledging and understanding emotions)

4. Communicate emotions (Expressing emotions)

Self-understanding builds our competence to understand others. Challenge ourselves a bit to walk in other people’s shoes, be non-judgmental to others, cultivate a sense of curiosity to understand the emotions and needs, then communicate the emotions to build connections. As nonverbal behaviours often mirror our emotions, learning the acronym of E.M.P.A.T.H.Y., as illustrated below, can be a good way for us to rethink our level of empathy and to react differently in future encounters.