By Bronwyn Ison
Our country celebrates its charitable foundations and expresses how giving back is instrumental to our society. I would wholeheartedly agree. In our adolescent years most of us were taught, it is better to give than it is to receive. The more you give the more you will receive. Research collected by Psych Central tells us, empathy is learned within the first two of years of life. What does that mean for you as an individual? I began to ponder the practice of empathy. Is it possible some people possess more than others?
By definition, empathy means, understanding what others are feeling because you have experienced it yourself or can put yourself in their shoes. I am sure you have explained a scenario to a friend that may have been heart wrenching or tumultuous for you. Although your friend may not have experienced your trauma, his/her response is, “I understand how you are feeling”. You contemplate, “my friend cannot possibly understand because he/she has never been there before.” Each one of us has empathy for others. It becomes an avenue for each of us to connect with one another. As a mother of two children, my oldest child wanted to create a card for her friend who had a bad day at school. In my personal opinion, manufacturing a card for her friend was a delightful example of showing empathy. She associated with and understood what having a bad day is like and wanted to do something special to lift her spirit.
Do you believe you are an empathetic person? If so, how can you become more so and how can you posture yourself to become more empathetic? Begin to know you can foster greater relationships if you are more empathetic. Don’t confuse being empathetic with not being assertive. If you disagree or take a different perspective than someone else it is fine. You can make your point with a kind approach and delivery.
As we have learned since childhood, treat others’ as you would want to be treated. Criticizing, name-calling, rudeness, and disrespect etc., is not how you would appreciate being treated.
Be honest with yourself and use self-reflection. Often what we are promoting on the surface appears easy to accomplish. We must be candid and practice what we are preaching. If you find yourself at a dead end it is time to dig deep.
Ask yourself to better empathize with others, courtesy of Psychology Today,.
1. Whenever we seek to understand someone better.
2. When we find ourselves arguing unproductively with a spouse or a significant other.
3. When we have trouble connecting emotionally to the plight of a loved one.
4. When we want to calm our tempers and manage our emotions.
5. When figuring out how best to complain effectively.
Bronwyn Ison is the Owner of Evolve Yoga in La Quinta. Visit: www.e-volveyoga.com
or (760) 564 – YOGA (9642)
