7 strategies to improve empathy

Empathy is that invisible thread that unites us with others people. It is essential to enhance this capacity, since it brings important benefits: it helps us establish solid and satisfactory bonds, enhances our emotional intelligence and contributes to our overall well-being.

Of course: developing it is a full-time job. It requires an ongoing process to become a more empathetic person. In this sense, it is necessary appeal to active listening, train tolerance and not get carried away by prejudices. Do you want to delve into techniques to improve your empathy? Continue reading.

Brief definition of empathy

Roughly, There are two types of empathy: cognitive empathy and emotional empathy. According to important neuropsychology researchers such as Daniel Goleman, cognitive empathy involves becoming aware of thoughts and motivations. Which is the same, putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. For its part, emotional empathy refers to the ability to tune into the emotions of others: share the experience.

It is from the complementation of both types that we achieve understand other people from their personal perspectives and not from your ownin addition to acquiring valuable tools to resolve conflicts peacefully.

On the other hand, empathy is a complex construct, but with an undeniable biological basis. Mirror neurons, located in the premotor cerebral cortex, play a more than relevant role in empathic behaviors.

7 tips to improve empathy

It is true that some people find it very easy to interact with empathy. But for others, it is more complicated and they have to work hard to achieve it. Below, we mention some of the guidelines to promote its development.

1. Think about the other

Empathy is the art of putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes. One way to cultivate it is simply to think about the other person.. This way we can connect in a more genuine way with her.

This means asking ourselves what he would think, how he would act or what he would say. Additionally, it is important to consider what your story is, what difficulties you have gone through, and what goals you are pursuing.

2. Leave our world

Another aspect to improve empathy is stop believing that we are the center of the universe. In recent years, the term emotional egocentrism bias has become popular. It refers to the tendency to overrely on one’s own point of view when examining emotional events and perspectives in others.

While it is true that some issues can make us uncomfortable, sometimes the effort to give in and realize that we all make mistakes is productive. In addition, It is essential to be aware that no one is the possessor of the absolute truth., but there are as many realities as there are people in the world. Abandoning this egocentrism will allow us to be more tolerant and compassionate.

3. Practice active listening

Knowing how to listen makes a difference. But this is not reduced to hearing the words of the other; active listening supposes be present at the conversation. Some researchers consider it a key tool when developing empathy, as well as improving interpersonal relationships.

In order to improve this superior communication skill, it is important to keep the following in mind:

Do not interrupt.Look into the eyes.Take an open body posture.Listen to the message without judging.Attend to body movements and facial gestures.

4. Read between the lines

In line with the previous point, it is essential to read between the lines. That is to say, go beyond the words the other person says. Being aware of non-verbal communication and body language will provide us with information about how you are feeling.

It is about capturing the background and the emotions not expressed literally, which support the message. Well, this can be communicated with happiness, with fear, with sadness, with disappointment.

5. Say goodbye to prejudices to improve empathy

We tend to think that our way of thinking is the only valid one. The problem is that if we do not question ourselves, we will reject any different opinion. As indicated in a work published in Frontiers in Psychology In 2020, there is an inverse relationship between prejudice and empathic emotions.

Often we get caught up in assumptions and prejudices. We assume that the other should react emotionally and cognitively as we would, when what we should do is focus on the fact that the person in front of us has a personal history and, therefore, a particular way of seeing the world.

6. Cultivate genuine interest in others

The renowned psychologist specializing in emotional intelligence, Daniel Goleman, highlights the importance of demonstrating a genuine interest in the experiences of others, on the way to improving empathy.

By appealing to curiosity, we can seek closeness with the people around us and include personalized comments to the conversation, as long as the other allows it. In this sense, ask questions like: “How did your exam go?” or “How do you feel in your new job?” It is very useful to foster greater understanding and thus strengthen our ties.

7. Playing to put on many skins

People who do theater usually have highly developed empathy. This activity forces them to dissociate from themselves for a while, and reflect on the emotional responses of others. For example, when an actor plays a character, he must consider the character’s personality traits, fears, and motivations.

How about you try take the place of a family member, friend, or movie character, and think about how they would feel or act in a specific situation? Take it as a game! Remember that the goal is to become a more empathetic person with your environment.

Empathy is not synonymous with sympathy

Two concepts are often confused that, although they have points in common, are not the same: sympathy and empathy. Spell implies a positive experience of the emotional world of the other person and by agreeing with it, we tend to approach them with kindness. Instead, Empathy involves respecting the feelings and thoughts of others, whether we share them or No.

This difference is significant, since it is common for us to assume that we are empathizing with someone when, in reality, we are not. Being kind to others does not make us empathetic. To achieve this, it is important to take one more step, understand the other person from their perspective and not from our.

With patience and dedication it is possible to improve empathy

Empathy allows us to connect with others and strengthen our bonds with them. More than enough reason to work on it. TRUE?

However, it is essential to know that to understand the cognitive and emotional processes of those around us we need time and, above all, spend that time patiently. After all, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is not something that can be taken lightly, much less achieved from one moment to the next.

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