The Simple Definition of Empathy:
The feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions – and the ability to share someone else’s feelings because you have lived it.
It’s no secret that to walk in another’s shoes is the ONLY way you can begin to understand the living plights of others. To be considered different from what is regarded as the norm, establishing the standard could help. Trying to ‘fit in’ forces you to move away from who you are while forging this lie and pretense. As you’re made to feel inferior because of your plus size, your kinky hair, your personal beliefs, the color of your skin becomes an everyday challenge, a challenge that has ended horribly because the faith you thought you had wasn’t good enough.
As we all have heard at one time, another, the phrase, ‘I’m so sorry, I know how you feel,’ is a misnomer. It’s impossible to know how someone feels unless you have experienced the life of someone else. Your perceived emotions to get into someone’s head and share their feelings for your own is distrusting, saying the least. So, it’s alright to be empathetic but not judgmental. In short, position yourself on the side of reason. You were able to reason how difficult someone else’s life could be in the beginning to understand gratification. Gratified in the sense that you look at yourself as this blessing that many may not possess. Being genuinely empathetic means that the effort to understand someone’s position in life should follow a conversation with the person in question.
What does it mean to be ill-equipped to live a healthy life void of visible handicaps? Trying to understand others’ challenges better affords you that opportunity to be an authentic individual and not one who quietly criticizes to hurt or judge.
This Article was Last Updated On: August 8, 2021