What is Empathy?

Empathy is the ability to sense the feelings and emotions of other people. It’s being aware of what others are experiencing as if we were feeling it ourselves. Empathy is a key ingredient for successful relationships because it helps us to understand the perspectives, needs, and intentions of others. When we understand what someone else is thinking or feeling, it becomes easier to connect and interact with them. We can do this by listening well to others without interruption, tuning-in to emotional cues, and paying attention to their nonverbal communication.

Empathy also means to understand and share feelings with one another. Relationships often suffer because we tend to get so caught up with our own experiences that we simply can’t relate to what someone else is going through. Yet, when we become more aware of our own feelings and emotions, it’s easier to be sensitive to the changing feelings of others. When we strive to become more empathetic in life, we can gain greater wisdom, enjoy better relationships, and achieve a sense of peace and wellbeing.