From walking in our own shoes we move to understanding what it is like to walk in another’s through “Empathy” this weeks inspirational topic. Simply defined it is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Empathy seems to have deep roots in our brains and bodies perhaps even with our evolutionary history; how we learn, grow and evolve has a lot to do with understanding our environment and those around us. It is a key ingredient in successful relationships as it helps us understand the perspectives, needs and intentions of others.
“The Art of Empathy”
adapted from ‘The New Book of the Art of Living” by Wilferd A. Peterson
Someone has made the wise observation that a person wrapped up in themselves makes a very small package.
- Such a person is self-centered. The dimensions of their life are dwarfed and limited.
- The practice of empathy makes a person other-centered. Through the power of their creative imagination empathy enables them to project themselves into the consciousness of others that they may know how others think and feel.
- Sympathy merely mirrors another’s troubles. (I’m so sorry)
- Empathy seeks to discover the causes of the troubles with the searchlight of insight.
Through empathy one comes to appreciate another person’s feeling’s without becoming so emotionally involved that judgement is affected.
- one learns not to judge others in terms of their own personal interests, likes and dislikes, but in terms of what life means to them.
The Sioux Indians expressed the attitude of empathy when they prayed, “Great Spirit, help us never to judge another until we have walked for two weeks in his moccasins.”
Through empathy one may closely identify them-self with anyone they may wish to understand.
- They may seek inspiration from the gifted, the victorious, the happy.
- They may develop a deep comprehension of the problems of the blind, the crippled, the sorrowing and the defeated.
- They may become connected to all people under all conditions of stress and difficulty.
Empathy is the key to leadership. It unlocks the dreams in the hearts of the people so the leader can help to make those dreams come true.
Empathy helps to create harmony in the home. Family members may play the roles of each other; for instance a parent may play the part of a child and the child the part of the parent so that each may learn to know and appreciate the feelings of the other.
Practicing the art of empathy will enlarge one’s life.
- It will broaden their humanity, expand their understanding and inspire tolerance, compassion and forgiveness.