The Lost Art Of Empathy: The Virtue Mankind Still Needs | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Lost Art Of Empathy: The Virtue Mankind Still Needs

Empathy influences connection and compassion in the most beautiful and genuine ways.

256
The Lost Art Of Empathy: The Virtue Mankind Still Needs
Rewire Me

People tend to know what kind of support and empathy they need from others. Whether one goes through grief and loss, abuse, heartbreak, mental illness, or other trauma, they know what genuine support feels like and which feels best for them personally. This weeds out the people they reach out to and the people they don't. Yet, when it comes to empathizing with and lending support to others, many people are stumped. They don't know how to respond, so they avoid the situation altogether.

Genuine empathy goes beyond words. It goes beyond knowing the right thing to say at the right time. Genuine empathy is allowing yourself to be vulnerable, opening yourself to feel the feelings of the person with whom you are empathizing. It is a lost art in a world where we need compassion and connection as much as ever.

Brené Brown is an American scholar that has done substantial research on empathy and vulnerability. She talks about the difference between sympathy and empathy; empathy influences connection while sympathy drives disconnection. Sympathy separates yourself from the person who is hurting because it implies you are outside looking in, rather than stepping down into the place the other person is coming from and feeling from their perspective. It makes them feel more alone.

Empathy is to be vulnerable. In order to feel what the other person is feeling, you have to connect with something inside yourself that knows that feeling. It looks differently to different people. Sometimes it means just listening and feeling, saying nothing at all.

Brené Brown references Theresa Wiseman's 4 Qualities of Empathy in the video below:

1. To be able to see the world as others see it — this requires putting our stuff aside to see the situation through the eyes of a loved one.

2. To be nonjudgmental — judgment of another person's situation discounts the experience and is an attempt to protect ourselves from the pain of the situation.

3. To understand another person’s feelings — we need to be in touch with our personal feelings in order to understand someone else's. This also requires putting aside "us" to focus on our loved one.

4. To communicate our understanding of that person’s feelings — rather than saying, “At least,” or, “It could be worse,” try, “I've been there, and that really hurts,” or (to quote an example from Brown) “It sounds like you are in a hard place now. Tell me more about it."


To be empathetic truly is an art, and we need to get more creative.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

147237
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

36431
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

32280
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments