Empathy is the ability to understand and share feelings with others. But, what does it mean to be empathetic?
To be empathetic means to feel for other people, or ‘put your feet in other people’s shoes’. Empathy can affect other people too. People feel your empathy and see you as a truly caring and kind person. Empathy makes people around you feel treasured, whether it be your work, friends, or other relationships with them.
Empaths: who are they and how do they behave?
In our community, you know an empath when you meet one. They thrive on interacting with people with compassion and care. Attributes of empaths include the tendency to connect with animals and nature, the ability to detect dishonesty, and to feel others’ emotions as their own.
Even though empaths are very sensitive and caring towards others, there are possible drawbacks of being an empath. They may get overwhelmed in public spaces as they feel the mental strain of others’ emotions as their own. This puts them at risk of an emotional state called ‘burnout’, a state of physical and mental exhaustionfrom overexerting oneself.
Showing empathy
Not everyone is a natural empath. Certain individuals are innately unable to express empathy, and have to push themselves to learn how to do so. So here are simple, effective ways to empathize:
Listen. Sometimes, when you’re unable to understhand what someone is going through, simply listening and nodding along can go a long way, and show you care.
Make them laugh. Humor is a powerful tool for lightening one’s spirits. After acknowledging their emotional strain, bring up light hearted moments to take their minds off what's troubling them.
Body language. Engage with them in a way that’s warm- a good hug is always an excellent serotonin booster. Open yourself up, and provide a gateway for their emotions.
Tell them you understand. Truly acknowledge what they’re feeling by stating their exact emotions, like “you must be feeling rather upset” or, “I’m sorry this happened to you.” It makes them feel as though they’re not alone in this fight.
In conclusion, Empathy is a powerful tool that can be used when bonding and fostering relationships. While it is important to show empathy, it is also important to understand the limitations of excessive empathy. Instead, strive for a balance between your mental health and others’ compassion to increase self-awareness and relationships.
Designer: Jun Monteleone
Researcher: Ivan Lo
Sources:
Goleman, D. (2005). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Random House Publishing Group.
(n.d.). I Am Here Is An Evidence-based Mental Health And Wellbeing Leader For The Workplace. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from https://iamheretribe.com
Faber, A., & Mazlish, E. (2012). How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. Scribner.
Teresa,Y. (2024). Direct source from personal experience: Teresa YAN [13U25]
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