Kia ora welcome and thanks for reading my blog! Today let's take a look at the power of empathy, its awesome impact on our relationships.
I know that empathy isn't always a natural response, particularly when we're in the midst of the grind of family life. But empathy is a powerful tool which brings ease to our relationships.
Keep reading to gain tips, and reasons to add empathy to your own communication tool kit.
Reason #1 Empathy can help us move away from payback and towards understanding. Understanding where the other person is coming from, helps us to keep calm and deal with issues as they arise in a way we can feel good about.
The cycle of 'hurt people, hurt people' can be effectively short circuited using empathy. When we are feeling hurt, instead of hurting back, we try and understand where the other person is coming from. This is a very useful relationship building tool.
Responding with empathy can become easier with practice.
7 more reasons why you will want to focus on building empathy into your relationships.
Improved Communication: Empathy moves us naturally into an active listening role, because when we are are trying to understand the other person, we listen.
Conflict Resolution: We become better equipped to handle conflicts and disagreements, because we start to see situations from the others' perspectives.
Reduced Prejudice and Stereotyping: When we can step into another's shoes, it helps to break down barriers and reduces prejudiced attitudes. If we as parents are closed off to how our kids are dealing with life, then it becomes really hard to have meaningful conversations with them.
Positive Impact on Mental Health: Using empathy can reduce stress, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness. Showing empathy can help others around us feel heard and understood, which in turn can reduce tension.
Enhanced Problem-Solving: Because empathy helps us move away from our own view point, it can help us to consider other perspectives. We get to see the bigger picture with a little more ease.
Increased Emotional Support: Whether practicing at home, work or in the community, being empathetic allows you to provide genuine emotional support to friends, family, or colleagues during challenging times. Showing empathy helps people we care about feel understood and valued.
Cultivation of Compassion: Role modelling empathy for our kids, and building this into our relationships, can help to grow compassion and kindness towards each other.
Responding with empathy can become easier with practice.
How to build our empathy muscles. Like anything we can learn how, and the more we use empathy, the easier it will become. Here are some exercises that will build your empathy muscles.
Put Yourself in Others' Shoes: Take time to consciously put yourself in someone else's position. Try to understand how the other person might be feeling and what their perspective might be.
Practicing Open-Ended Questions: Practice asking open-ended questions that encourage the other person to share their thoughts and feelings. Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no."
Take time to be interested: Slow down. When we are too busy, we tend to move on autopilot. It's hard to be mindful when in busy mode. Take a moment to fully focus on what's being said to us? We all know how frustrating it is trying to get our message across to someone who is distracted!
When our kids use empathy: Note down when you catch your kids using empathy with others. Encourage them by letting them know you noticed. Notice the good they are doing.
Remember that building empathy is a gradual process, and it requires ongoing practice. By using these exercises, and keeping in mind, why build empathy - you can develop a more empathetic mindset and foster more meaningful and compassionate connections with others. You got this x
Kia ora, I'm Michelle Peat, and my kids are why I do what I do - I'm a mum of four + two step kids, and Nan to five. I create resources for teens and parents of teens. And I work as a family mediator. I'm based in Kirikiriroa Aotearoa New Zealand.
You can check out my website here: michellepeat.co.nz
Want more awesome communication tips? I've made a free eBook that focus' on managing difficult conversations with our teens. The tips can also be used with any relationship that is important to you.
Keep building your communication skills, get your FREE Conflict Management eBook here: click here