Empathy is being able to know how someone else is feeling, even when you are not in the same situation. Sometimes, in more simple words, we call empathy being able to “put yourself in someone’s shoes” and see things from their view. Why is empathy important? Empathy is the first step in having positive relationships because it helps us understand and relate to others. This makes you a better child, friend, parent, spouse or co-worker.
Numerous studies have shown that children that learn how to have empathy show less incidence of anxiety and depression and are superior communicators. Others are drawn to people with empathy because they feel understood and heard and even safer around that person. There is an extraordinarily strong correlation between empathy and the willingness to help others, even when it is inconvenient. Is not this the type of quality we want to have, and foster in our children?
Kumar Bandyo