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Empathy is a Learned Skill
Heather C. Morrow
Director, Project Management and Training Loeb & Loeb LLP
I believe empathy is a learned skill. We learn it from our families, teachers, and friends; however, it really hits home when life knocks us sideways. Once we have been in a difficult situation, we start to understand and empathize with others going through the same or similar life events. As we gain more life experience, we gain more empathy for those around us. Life is hard. Everyone is just trying to make it. Some people simply have better coping mechanisms than others.
Empathy can change the way we relate to our co-workers, family, and friends. It can increase our patience, especially when we realize that others view things (and even life) differently. We might not know that they are being abused, have a long-term illness, or are grieving the loss of a parent. But if we are empathetic and truly listen, we are more likely to learn what they are going through. Empathy allows us to reach deeply into another’s soul and connect on a more personal level. When we are empathetic, others feel that we know and understand them.
Unfortunately, empathy is not always a two-way street; there are those who have not learned this skill. We can only hope that leading by example and showing them empathy will help them learn.
I am more empathetic when I remember that there is a young person inside each of us who just wants to be loved, no matter what situations we find ourselves in.
Our experiences are the building blocks of who we are and who we will become in the future. Leveraging empathy can make our journeys sweeter. Being open and accepting of what others have gone through might save us from going through the same things or help prepare us for how we will handle our own futures.
Although we can plan where we want to be 5-10 years from now, life has a way of redirecting us. Having empathy for ourselves and the situations we find ourselves in allows us to grow, even in times of great trials, stress, fear, and sadness.
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