Did we mention we are celebrating ten years of Make A Way Media? All year long we will be highlighting why we exist. Empathy is a big deal here at Make a Way Media; we talk and write about it a lot and try to support others as they develop their empathy skills. But what is empathy?
At its most basic, empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes; to see how a situation or event impacts them. Empathy also involves withholding judgment and allowing others to be their authentic selves.
Empathy is very important. It is a crucial life skill that impacts a person’s ability in all sorts of arenas, including work, friendship, and marriage. Like a lot of skills, a person can strengthen their empathy with effort, practice, and discussion.
One of the best ways to increase your empathy is through reading, which is another big deal at Make a Way Media. Reading is an easy way to build your curiosity and expose you to people and situations that are different from yours, thereby improving your ability to put yourself in their shoes. Reading fiction especially allows you a safe space to experience life in a completely different vein. There is a concept in children’s literature called mirrors and windows which truly highlights the basic tenant of reading as it relates to developing a more empathetic spirit. There is a wonderful article on the PBS site which I will share here if you would like to go really in-depth on this subject, but in short, the concept of windows in mirrors means that readers should both see themselves, as well as see the lives of others in the stories they read,
Another way to improve empathy is to find common ground between yourself and people who differ from you. This can feel challenging, but there are usually ways in which we are similar even to people from vastly different worlds. Maybe you both value time spent with family or have a spiritual practice in common. While seeing and understanding differences is important, so is seeing the connections we all share.
Focusing on others is another way to build empathy. Set down your phone and really listen to people. Look them in the eyes. Hear their journey. Ask questions. Getting a firm grasp of what they are relating to you is essential to really get to know where other people are coming from. This is the basis for developing feelings of connection and compassion.
What are you doing today to strengthen your empathy muscle? It is just like a muscle– so take active steps to work it out and become the best human you can be.