Empathy

Empathy: Correctly and compassionately understanding the feelings of others

Listening and understanding other people’s situations + experiencing the feelings of others = empathy

If we are empathetic, our minds are perceptive, and our actions are gracious and considerate. We show compassion because we can experience the feelings of others.

Empathy requires:

• Listening – How well we listen influences the quality of our personal relationships.
• An Open Mind – Everybody sees the world differently based on their upbringing, experiences, culture, and beliefs.
• Caring Response – Empathy is more than pity or sorrow; it is understanding another person’s situation in a way that moves us to action.

“Seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another.”  – Alfred Adler