Empathy isn’t built from knowing what others feel—it’s born from truly listening when we can’t feel it ourselves.
There is a great disparity in temperatures across the U. S. A daughter texted me that her high temperature was headed toward 30°F. My high temperature today will be 80°F. my brother emailed me this morning and told me that he took his dog for a walk and the temperature was 30 with a bitter wind. I went to the gym and short sleeves and shorts.
Although I’ve lived in cold climate for over half my life, it’s still difficult to understand how my brother and daughter felt being outside in the cold weather. I’ve experienced it but I’m not experiencing it now. I can say things like I know you feel, that sounds so hollow.. The only way to truly emphasize with another is to literally walk along side them. How can we provide advice when we really are not experiencing the same conditions at the same moment? I think it’s difficult. It’s better to listen empathetically. Across the country, temperatures vary—but the warmth or chill we feel inside often has little to do with the weather. When my daughter texts about freezing cold and my brother writes about bitter winds, I can picture it, but I can’t feel it. I walk outside in shorts and sunshine. That gap reminds me how empathy truly works.
Question for Readers:
When was the last time someone truly listened to you—and how did it make you feel?
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear…” — Leo Buscaglia
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