Description
Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in another’s place and to understand their experience. We are deeply present to their thoughts and feelings with such compassionate accuracy that they can hear their own thoughts more clearly. Empathy connects us with our common humanity. It protects us from prejudice, blame and judgment – those things that divide us from each other. With empathy, we reflect on how our actions affect others. It moves us to seek justice for every person, even those with whom we disagree. Empathy inspires us to be giving and selfless. Empathy connects our hearts.
In Family Life
The virtue of Empathy within a family is demonstrated through a deep and genuine understanding of each member’s feelings, perspectives, and needs. It involves actively listening and offering support without judgment, allowing family members to share their joys, worries, and challenges openly. Empathy means putting oneself in another’s shoes, feeling their emotions, and offering a comforting presence during distress.
Empathy fosters trust and connection in a family setting, where conflicts are resolved with sensitivity and disagreements are met with a willingness to understand one another. This virtue encourages family members to celebrate each other’s successes. It provides a strong shoulder to lean on in times of difficulty, ultimately creating a strong bond that nurtures a sense of belonging and togetherness.
Quote
“To ‘listen’ another’s soul into a condition of disclosure and discovery may be almost the greatest service any human being ever performs for another.”
— Douglas V Steere
The Practice of Empathy
- I seek to understand others’ experience.
- I listen with compassion.
- I refrain from judging and blaming.
- I think about how my choices impact others.
- I care about people’s rights.
- I feel my connection to all people.