Empathy

I read an article called " 5 signs you're a highly empathetic person" posted on the site Insider.

According to the article, these are the five signs: 1. You’re a giver, and sometimes you give too much. 2. You’re highly intuitive and absorb others' emotions. 3. People seek you out for help when they need someone to listen. 4. You find many social situations are physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. 5. You need alone time, preferably in nature, to recharge.

Number five in the above list is interesting. A person with a strong sense of empathy may just be the type of person that not only seeks mindfulness, but requires time to be mindful and to meditate. A natural setting is the ideal place. If you are taking a few minutes to read this blog post, you are probably an empathetic person.

MUST READ!

An amazing article about empathy, called Six Habits of Highly Empathic People

written in 2012 for Greater Good Magazine - Science Based Insights for a Meaningful Life, provides a roadmap for a better life and a better world. Read the article for the detailed explanation of each habit.

Habit 1: Cultivate curiosity about strangers.

Habit 2: Challenge prejudices and discover commonalities.

Habit 3: Try another person’s life.

Habit 4: Listen hard—and open up.

Habit 5: Inspire mass action and social change.

Habit 6: Develop an ambitious imagination. Habit 6 refers to empathizing with perceived "enemies." The author says "Empathizing with adversaries is also a route to social tolerance. That was Gandhi’s thinking during the conflicts between Muslims and Hindus leading up to Indian independence in 1947, when he declared, 'I am a Muslim! And a Hindu, and a Christian and a Jew.'

As the world currently shares a common challenge - a pandemic, a little empathy can go a long way. Please share this post as a first step to fostering a better understanding of ourselves and others. Look beyond your social circle, the tribe, the like-minded. There are solutions to most problems. Perhaps empathy is the key.

Peace