Empathy: is acknowledging the thoughts and feelings of other people. It comes from listening to others deeply so that we learn about the inner-world of another person. When we listen deeply, we validate others’ experiences and value others’ suffering.

We can create a safe space for people to share and be deeply listened to through:

• Respect: You can treat someone’s story with kindness by actively listening when they tell it, by honoring its importance in their life, and by not laughing unless the person who is telling it finds it to be funny.
• Confidentiality: You can treat someone’s story with confidentiality by not sharing or talking about it with anybody else without getting permission first.
• Kindness: You can treat someone’s story with kindness by treating it and the person’s decision to trust you with it as a gift and a privilege.

Six Habits of Highly Empathetic People

1. Cultivate curiosity about strangers.
2. Challenge prejudices and discover commonalities.
3. Try another person’s life.
4. Listen hard and open up.
5. Inspire mass action and social change.
6. Develop an ambitious imagination.

For more information on how you can develop each of these habits click here.

Categories: Be A Friend Resources