As I was speaking on last week The Communion of Empathy (October 28, 2021),
Here is a further expansion on the topic I have license to share:
Empathy is inherent in most people, and can deepen with age and experience.
Still, there are certain tools that can help to develop it even more.
6 steps to developing better empathy are:
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- Notice it – See that someone is experiencing an emotion by paying attention to their words, voice, and non-verbal behaviors.
- Identify it – Determine the emotions from the words, voice and behaviors that you think the person is feeling.
- Recognize its intensity – Gauge the strength of the emotions that are being expressed.
- Put it into words – Choose suitable words or phrases that capture the identified emotion and its intensity.
- Express it – Reflect back to the other person what you believe they are thinking, feeling and experiencing.
- Check in – Ask the person to confirm or further clarify your understanding.”
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Being empathetic requires a shift in your awareness to what it feels like to be another person.
Following the steps of developing your empathy has the added bonus of establishing rapport with others through the simple act of listening and identifying with the emotions they are experiencing.
Just listening and trying to understand what someone else is feeling means more to a person than defending, debating or trying to fix their problem.
True empathy opens a door that allows for an unfolding shared life experience.
Here is a short video that goes into the relationship of empathy between health provider and recipient. I have appreciated the late Dr. Gabe Hoffman’s perspective how we can feel another’s pain and at the same time seeing them as CAPABLE.
I appreciate sharing such things with you all.
For our greater health,
Dr. Steve
