Empathy the Great Equalizer | Stormy Season
Can we ever truly empathize with another person? I am sitting at my desk in southern California while the temperature outside is sunny and around 80 degrees while back East they are experiencing the aftermath of hurricane Sandy. I can because I too have been through my own stormy times in life. I have had my life seem to blow away in a brief period of time. I have found myself suddenly submerged under a cold cloud of despair.
Just knowing there are people around the world wishing and praying for us goes a long way in raising our spirits. Whether we are going through the devastation of a hurricane the experiences of a break up in our relationships, a job loss or financial ruin it all hurts. Loss and pain in whatever form is still something we can all relate to. We call all empathize with if we are willing to open ourselves up to our own internal pains when we see others facing a difficult situation.
People in New York have died or seemingly had their lives destroyed through these past days and it easy for us sitting high and dry and unaffected to go about our day as if nothing has happened. Yet, if we are willing to pause and look inside ourselves for a few moments we do our part to feel what others less fortunate may be feeling. When we do this we are actually helping to relieve some of their pain, to release it for them.
I think many of us have been through much pain in our lives we do anything possible, including ignoring the pain of others as a defense. Unfortunately this prevents us from being there for other people in a way in which they could gain the most benefit.
As the next few days past and the storm settles down on the outside, yet may be continuing internal for those affected the most by this storm, let us all try and be open and willing enough to empathize and share their pain with the hopes of diminishing it that much sooner.
About Mark Michael
Mark A. Michael, Your WHAT'S NEXT? Mentor and author of "Beyond Faith...Into FREEDOM! No matter what's going on in your life you can increase your level of freedom that you are having, it is a state of mind. My WHAT's NEXT? Mentoring and Next Step coaching sessions are tools you can use to find the FREEDOM! You Deserve in your life, right here, right now. "Freedom is not what you have or what you do, ity is WHO you are"
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Hi Mark,
As I sit and see the devastation that has been left in the wake of Sandy I am grateful for the fact that my family are safe and it didn’t hit Florida. I do feel empathy for the people that have been affected by this storm, we were in New York at this time last year, also my daughter in law has family that live in New Jersey.
Like you say we have all been through our own struggles and stormy times. I believe that we should empathise with people who are struggling and think about how we can help. Too many people think about themselves and forget about others, we are in the business of problem solving and helping others first and foremost.
Kerris
Yeah, if I don’t make an effort I can just get caught up in the pictures and videos floating around online and not remember, people have died or had their lives upturned by this.