Empathy as a Means of Positive Action

Written By Colēgia

One of the most important qualities to have in life is empathy. It helps you be more in tune with others’ feelings along with making you more socially adept. Today we want to talk about how we can use empathy as a means to promote positive action.

Sensing Emotion

Being able to sense emotion in others is one of the key aspects of empathy. Tuning in to these feelings can take time and depending on the person, it may take more effort. One good way to do this is to approach people with a calm frame of mind. This is crucial as it lets us accurately assess all the information we may notice. If we notice someone's tone of voice is wavering, for example, they may not feel too comfortable in a situation. We can use this knowledge to make an active effort to let them know we support them and lift them up. If we see someone’s body language is a bit more reserved, we can give someone a smile to let them know they're in good company. Little things like this go a long way in conveying that we are not only aware of how someone feels, but that we're willing to go the extra mile to show that we care.

“Being able to sense emotion in others is one of the key aspects of empathy.”

Learning From Others

Empathy is a great way to learn from others as well. Many of us may wind up focusing too much on our own needs without being mindful of other people as well. Taking the active step to ask how someone is feeling is a great way to demonstrate that their opinion matters. Empathy gives us the means to be able to learn how others feel and use that knowledge as a means of promoting mindfulness. Learning about what someone else is going through can help you see different perspectives. This in turn allows you to practice gratitude for all the things in your life while also being able to share experiences with others. A willingness to learn can make all the difference when it comes to practicing empathy as it opens up the line of communication.

“Learning about what someone else is going through can help you see different perspectives.”

Using it For Change

Empathy is one of the most effective uses for promoting both change and positive action. It helps us recognize that there are ways to reach out to others and help them. It reminds us that there are other people who have experienced similar things as us and that we can use our past to help them. It allows us to rethink how we view conflict. Empathy provides us with the tools needed to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and it can let us act on that. One great way to use empathy as a means for change is to volunteer at your local community center. Giving back to those who need help or are in a less fortunate position can not only improve the quality of their lives, but it can promote a sense of gratitude within.

Colēgia

Colēgia

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