Everyone who wants to get along well in society has probably wondered what empathy is. On the Internet, it has become commonplace to say that one person lacks empathy for another during an argument or even when the topic is the life of some celebrity who is being offended, for example.

If you still don't know how this concept applies in your life and why it is so important for the interpersonal relationships we build, the next paragraphs will introduce you to a new way of dealing with those around you. Learn more about it below.

What is empathy?

According to the dictionary, "empathy" is what causes one person to identify with another. This skill is usually known as "putting yourself in the other person's shoes." In practice, however, empathy goes far beyond this.

It is impossible to put yourself in someone else's shoes. Even with a lot of effort, there is no way to perfectly understand how someone feels in a certain situation, since these feelings are the result of all the life experiences that this individual has accumulated.

So, in a social aspect, empathy should be understood as the effort to understand that there are many ways of seeing the world and many different realities that go far beyond our perceptions.

So we need to respect other people's feelings and remember that they have their own stories that we can never fully access. By doing this, judgments about other people's lives are likely to decrease dramatically. But how does empathy manifest itself in a person's life?

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Examples of empathy

Empathy is fundamental in all the environments a person moves through. Empathy at work, for example, is what helps us to identify when someone is overloaded, to offer that person help, and to reduce the pressure and stress they have been under.

In this same context, when an employee faces a personal problem and asks for time off, empathy can manifest itself. Empathetic people understand the plight of this individual and are willing to alleviate the problems he or she is facing, without questioning it.

Empathy for others also appears in friendship circles. If someone's friend is feeling bad about something, the person who is always there for her won't judge her. On the contrary, he will welcome her, validate her feelings, and show her that everything will be okay.

In the family environment, empathy can be a little more subtle, but it is present. An example of this is when family members try to calm a crying child, because even though they don't understand the reason for the crying, they know that the child is suffering and needs affection.

And why should we act in this respectful and understanding way, rather than advocating an "every man for himself" approach? Below, discover the benefits of practicing empathy on a daily basis, in all areas of your life.

Tips for more empathy

Although this is a very subjective and individual matter, it is possible to list some tips for anyone to have more empathy with others. Feeling like the other person is an exercise that should be sought by anyone. Open dialogue and the ability to listen can help to naturalize even more this movement of union and understanding with the feelings of others.

Another important tip that can help this process is the use of warm and friendly body language. If you introduce yourself to people with explicit affection, they will be more likely to open up, talk, and expose their feelings.

To develop empathy there is no need to be in a hurry, because time is also part of the process, since you need to understand and accept the speed of others. After all, everything is relative, including the way each one accepts this process.

Kindness is essential for increasing the empathic capacity in any of us. Any interpersonal relationship becomes more intimate and powerful when kindness sets the tone.

Benefits of empathy

You have already realized that empathy should be a part of all your relationships, but how exactly can it help you? What does one gain by being empathetic towards another, and how can this influence society? Understand:

1) Facility for dialogue

Empathy is first and foremost a sign of respect for the other person. When we feel respected, we are able to speak openly about our feelings and thoughts, knowing that we will not be judged. As a result, it is easier to dialogue with those around us - both listening and speaking.

2) Building long-lasting relationships

Building deep and lasting relationships is the main effect of empathy. Through this virtue, we are able to connect more with people, understanding their life stories and feelings, and society as a whole becomes more welcoming and honest.

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3) Relief from stress and tension

Often, stress and tension manifest themselves when we feel overwhelmed or when we are not open to talk about how we are feeling. With empathy, it becomes easier to share our woes with others and to share tasks. We can also avoid unnecessary arguments, conflicts, and judgments.

Importance of empathy

Based on the positive aspects that empathy offers for the coexistence between people, we can already see how important it is. Since life in society is inevitable, the best thing to do is to cultivate it with welcome and respect, two fundamental pillars of empathy.

It is from the recognition of multiple realities and perspectives on life that we are able to embrace the diversity of the communities in which we live. Only in this way can each individual be the best version of themselves, because they know they will be heard and recognized in any situation, regardless of what they are feeling.

Therefore, if you want to live in a better world, where love prevails over hate, empathy is the main virtue that will accompany you. It is important to see everything that exists beyond one's own navel and to nurture powerful and transforming relationships from that, isn't it?

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After understanding in detail why empathy is so fundamental in everyone's life, do a self-knowledge exercise. Think about whether you have been an empathetic person and in what ways you could bring this virtue to those around you!