The more I spend time in the space of empathy... the more I see different expressions, definitions and destinations. What is empathy if it’s not done with emotion or compassion, some ask? Can empathy be merely cognitive? If the receptor doesn't experience it, has empathy happened? What’s the difference between somatic, affective and compassionate empathy? As Reena has said, it’s a rather confusing, if not cloudy word.
And then, more profoundly: What if we all agreed? What if we were all empathic? What would become of our world? After all, it's possible we all agree that we're human beings, no? Does agreement actually mean progress? What's it all actually about or for?
Maybe that is the bigger question for which we must flex our empathic muscle?
Mar 22, 2023Liked by Minter Dial, Nicci Kadilak, Reena Kapoor
This is a conversation I have been having frequently in the past couple weeks. It is this inner knowing we have as humans when an act of kindness and/or connection comes from a place of authenticity and when it doesn't. We just inherently know. Sometimes we can't quite put our finger on why something is "off" but it is. Often, I think what is "off" is a sense/energy of forced connection or effort of kindness or empathy. We can't force it, we just have to let it flow from us when it naturally does, and be honest with ourselves when we can't quite summon it.
If we agree that we are all human beings, do we all have the same capacity for empathy? Or is there a different amount of empathy "available" to each of us.
Maybe the difference is "fake it til you make it"? At least for some people. In putting on empathy it's hard to see how you're not changing yourself at least some tiny bit. You've got to understand the shoes they're wearing before you can pretend to have worn them, if that makes sense.
Like I said below, though, I often ask myself that question: What if we were all empathetic? The vision I have for a world where we lead with curiosity and care is a richer one, where we don't have to worry about being trolled, if that makes sense. We just love each other and help each other out. The ecosystem you were talking about, or a village as I like to think of it.
This is a conversation I have been having frequently in the past couple weeks. It is this inner knowing we have as humans when an act of kindness and/or connection comes from a place of authenticity and when it doesn't. We just inherently know. Sometimes we can't quite put our finger on why something is "off" but it is. Often, I think what is "off" is a sense/energy of forced connection or effort of kindness or empathy. We can't force it, we just have to let it flow from us when it naturally does, and be honest with ourselves when we can't quite summon it.
If we agree that we are all human beings, do we all have the same capacity for empathy? Or is there a different amount of empathy "available" to each of us.
Maybe the difference is "fake it til you make it"? At least for some people. In putting on empathy it's hard to see how you're not changing yourself at least some tiny bit. You've got to understand the shoes they're wearing before you can pretend to have worn them, if that makes sense.
Like I said below, though, I often ask myself that question: What if we were all empathetic? The vision I have for a world where we lead with curiosity and care is a richer one, where we don't have to worry about being trolled, if that makes sense. We just love each other and help each other out. The ecosystem you were talking about, or a village as I like to think of it.