How to Develop Empathy

George Bernard Shaw once said, "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."

In today's world, where misunderstandings and conflicts abound, we need a powerful tool to help us communicate better. That tool is empathy.

Empathy is often neglected and misunderstood, but it's a crucial skill that helps us connect with others.

The Greater Good Project at Berkeley defines empathy as identifying and understanding other people's emotions.

Empathy has two parts: - Affective empathy refers to the feelings and sensations we get in response to others' emotions - Cognitive empathy is the ability to understand another person's perspective

Let's say you wanted to get better at empathy. How would you do it?

You could practice in real-time conversations. But often, these go so fast that it's hard to remember that you're trying to become more empathetic!

Or you could also practice in written conversation. Because it's not face-to-face, we can take the time to pray, read someone's message multiple times, intentionally consider their point of view in an empathetic manner, compose our thoughts, and edit our words before we share them.

Empathy isn't a secular virtue; it's at the heart of Christian practice. For instance, consider The Golden Rule, found in Matthew 7:12:

Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Or notice how Paul explains a similar idea in Romans 12:15:

Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

In each case, we are invited to notice someone else's perspective and feelings to love them well.