Authentic Empathy Towards Others is a Gift We Give Ourselves
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes
Can you change your life and your mood by being more empathetic towards others?
How do you react when you go into a store, and you see someone wear an outfit that you would not wear? What do you automatically think about someone when you start to question a person’s choice of outfits? What thoughts does it stir inside of you when you do not align with someone’s actions? How do you feel the moment you do not agree with a choice someone makes?
Many times, we see people being laughed at or mocked for their choices. Sometimes this happens to their face. Other times it happens behind their backs or in places where they cannot see or hear the criticisms. Sometimes, these criticisms are not said out loud and the person thinking them just avoids the other person. Still other times, memes and other pictures are posted about these people on social media. Which camp do you fall into? What do you do?
How many times do you see people who you feel made a poor outfit choice or did something that just made you think to yourself, “Why the heck, did they do that?” or maybe “What’s wrong with that person?” Even if you keep the comments to yourself, what effects do you believe the comments have on you? What if you turned around and said, “Wow, what courage it took to wear that!” or maybe “What courage it took to do that!” or even “How courageous is that person for making that choice!”
By flipping it from, “why did they do that” to “how courageous are they”, how do you think that will affect you mentally? How do you think it is going to affect your mood? How do you think it is going to affect the things you share online? Think about that for a second. Do you believe it will improve your mood? Do you believe it will help reduce the possibility of you being judgmental in the future?
The next time you look and want to laugh at somebody or the next time you want to say why the heck did they do that I invite you to look at them and think, I admire that person for how courageous they are to do something that is outside the norm. I admire them for being themselves. I admire them for being different. I admire them for doing something that I would not have done myself.
Authentic empathy towards others is a gift we give ourselves.
How this applies to fear…
When it comes to fear and not being judgmental of others, experiencing authentic empathy for others can help alleviate our fears. When we judge others, we become afraid others will judge us. While this may be a fear rooted in facts from our childhood, chances are it no longer applies. However, when we continue to be judgmental of others and refuse to recognize the courage they have, we also stop our subconscious from moving on and believing people will not judge us.
How this applies to authentic empathy…
When it comes to authentic empathy and not being judgmental of others, this is a case of treating others as you would like to be treated. Unless you are a narcissist, you will know and admit that not all your decisions, actions and choices will align and resonate with other people. When those decisions, actions and choice do not resonate with others, how do you want them to treat you? Do you want them to ridicule you for your choices – or – do you want them to respect your choices and value the fact that you took a chance?
How this applies to WACASHWI…
When it comes to WACASHWI and not being judgmental of others, when you move things on to and through the process, you will sometimes need a deeper level of authentic empathy from people around you. Sometimes, you will make choices and decisions that other people would not make. Developing a deeper level of authentic empathy for others will open you up to receiving a deeper level of authentic empathy from others.
Your daily invitations…
- I invite you to think about your recent thoughts, words, and actions.
- I invite you to consider if you have shown authentic empathy or been judgmental and what changes you can make.
- I invite you to write down your thoughts, feelings, and actions in your journal.
- I invite you to talk to anyone you realized that you had been judgmental towards if it is safe to do so.
Final step – how will you implement one thing you learned today in your life?
This all is but one step in your journey to living a more stress-free life, beating the demons of fear, and raising your level of authentic empathy towards yourself and others.
