Does Anyone Else Feel Like Me?

What are we watching this week?

This short video clip on empathy from Brené Brown really clarifies what empathy means.

She helps to distinguish between empathy and sympathy and to understand the four qualities of Empathy: Perspective taking, Staying out of judgment, Recognising emotion in other people, and Communicating that.

In short, Empathy is feeling WITH people. What makes something better is connection, not ‘silver lining’ or trying to ‘make things better.’

Empathy is one of I Am Here’s CLEAR Skills (along with Compassion, Listening, Acceptance and Real). Visit your I Am Here Arena to find support and resources designed to develop the skill of Empathy.

Watch the video (5-minutes watch)

What are we reading this week?

This week we are reading a New York Times article, How to Be More Empathetic. Its author, Claire Caine Miller, explores how we can all be more empathic, documenting also how we can model and teach empathy to others.

The article also challenges long-held beliefs, assumptions, and dispels some of the myths around empathy.

Read the article (10-minute read)

What are we quoting this week?

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

— OSCAR WILDE

To be able to have true empathy for others, we need to practice kindness towards ourselves. We need to listen to and understand our own self-talk. When we take a non-judgmental attitude toward ourselves and our feelings we are able to discern why we feel what we feel. We are then freer to understand others and be empathetic.