Never Underestimate The Power of Empathy
We've all been there
Never underestimate the power of empathy. It is a vital component to customer service, leadership, parenting, friendship – and life in general.
We’ve all experienced the truism that life doesn’t always go quite as smoothly as we would like – and sometimes the curveballs that life throws at us can be very, very stressful.
When under stress, our instinct is to turn inward
Our instinct, when times get tough, is to turn our focus inward, which can result in a sense of being alone and besieged. These are the moments when we appreciate empathy the most. We don’t necessarily want someone to solve our issues (although that would sometimes be nice), but there’s strength in the feeling that someone grasps what we are going through
It's not about fawning
Expressing empathy with other people doesn’t mean you have to fawn over them or gush. It’s about listening and being present. It’s about communicating that you understand what they’re going through, and that you care about them.
When it comes to connecting with people, there is no stronger message that you can send.
Sound simple? It is. All it takes is a little of your time. But don’t underestimate the impact your empathy is having. In those moments when someone is feeling like the world is against them, that kind of support is a message they will never forget
Maya Anjelou said it best
The great poet and philosopher, Maya Angelou, said it best:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
