#222. Empathy posted by brian @ Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:43:14 -0000

brian — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:43:14 -0000

em-pa-thy

noun

the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from Greek empatheia (from em- ‘in’ + pathos ‘feeling’ )

Empathy. From the Greek em- “in” + pathos “feeling.”

To be able to be “in” “feeling.”

Hmmmm…

That’s powerful.

Do you have the ability to understand and share the feelings of another?

Here’s the biggest trick, I think: to be in someone else’s feelings you obviously have to be able to step out of your own. But to REALLY get someone and to be able to be “in” their feelings, YOU have to be really familiar with YOUR OWN feelings.

Are you IN your feelings? Do you experience life fully?

I’ve noticed that the most compassionate, empathic people I’ve met have ALWAYS been the ones who have suffered—and overcome their suffering—the most. They have “felt” what it’s like to suffer. They can and have been “in” their feelings and this allows them to be in other people’s feelings as well.

So, be empathic today. Starting with yourself.

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#222. Empathy posted by brian @ Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:43:14 -0000