June 6, 2020
Let’s talk about empathy. Empathy, as you probably know, is the practice of actively trying to see a situation from someone else’s perspective. Putting yourself in someone else shoes, let’s say. It’s a favorite topic at many a boring business development seminar, because empathy can lead to a lot of great things. It can help a diverse group of people work together, solve problems, forge meaningful relationships, feel safe and respected, and generally get along.
But empathy is hard. It’s extremely humbling to face the fact that your view isn’t the only one that matters. It’s difficult to learn your perception doesn’t always jive with someone else’s lived reality. It’s uncomfortable to realize that, in someone else’s shoes, the walk through life becomes a different journey entirely. When a situation requires empathy, we as good friends and citizens are called to slip off our own shoes, and walk beside someone else for a while. The terrain may feel unfamiliar, challenging and downright scary under our feet. But it’s our job to make sure no one walks through this life alone.
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