How to Become More Empathetic

"In a world where many of us feel less connected to one another, giving and receiving empathy are more important than ever. We all yearn to be truly heard and understood. Fortunately, providing empathy is a skill that can be learned and practiced. When we know how to be empathetic with someone, the other person is assured that their feelings matter, and they receive the important gifts of connection and validation.

What Is Empathy?

Being empathetic means being on the same level with another person and focusing intently on the feelings they’re expressing. It means putting yourself in their shoes, holding their emotions in a tender way, and validating who they are and how they feel. You are in the moment with that person, attempting to understand what they’re telling you and how a particular situation feels to them.

How to Offer Empathy

1. Listen carefully not only to what you are being told, but especially to the feelings being expressed.
2. Repeat back to the person what you have heard them tell you, in order to make sure you are understanding them.
3. The person talking to you can then let you know if you have heard them correctly.
4. When you can accurately repeat back what you are hearing, acknowledge the person’s feelings and empathize with feelings.
5. When the person feels heard, you can brainstorm solutions if they ask for that, but most people don’t want you to tell them what to do. They just want you to listen and understand.

Sometimes empathy can be expressed very simply with just a few words, such as: “Dang, that’s terrible.” Or, “Wow, that must hurt.” Or, “You must feel really betrayed.”

Although offering empathy may seem easy and straightforward, there is a surprising lack of it in today’s culture. Learning how to become more empathetic will help deepen your connections with your children, partners, family members, friends, and others. It's a truly priceless gift."

*Empathy is such an important trait that is easily learned through practice and understanding. Being able to understand and be there for others can allow you to have deeper connections and build better relationships with those around you. One important thing I like to remember is that while you may want to help fix someone's problem, they may only want to vent. I really like to ask whoever I am talking to if they want me to give them ideas or just to give them support. That way, you can best provide them with whatever they need.💖 What are some ways you could practice being more empathetic?*

#Empathy #Understanding #Support

Please find the full article at Psychology Today.