As much as you may sometimes feel caught up in your world, driven by your own needs and desires, it?s important to remember that we all live in a global village. This means that every action you take and every word you say can affect the people around you. Whether you realise it or not, your behaviour impacts others, which is why you need to become empathetic if you want to fit in with the rest of the world. To truly thrive in this interconnected world, you need to be mindful of those around you, their feelings, and their experiences. The best way to do this is by becoming a more empathetic individual. So here are some effective ways to cultivate empathy in your life.
Be Mindful of Non-Verbal Cues
When you are talking to other people, make it a point to listen to more than what they might be saying. Pay attention to their non-verbal cues as this is the very first step to being empathetic. Some people will say things that aren't aligned with their body language and this may be a sign of their discomfort or them trying to hide their true feelings towards you. An example could be that, while you are celebrating something important to you, you ask one of your friends how they are and they tell you that they are okay while their body language is saying something to oppose this. This essentially may mean that they just want to prioritise your celebration over their feelings. By therefore tuning in to cues like facial expressions, gestures, and posture, chances are that you can gain a deeper understanding of how someone truly feels and being aware of this will aid you in responding more appropriately and compassionately.
Understand the Background of the Story
Prevailing situations, reactions and experiences are shaped by someone?s background. What someone has been through will determine their feelings towards something. This is why, if you truly want to be on the same page of things with someone, you have to understand their background. This will help you understand them better and it will help you connect with them, more than just on a superficial level. By gaining their perspective of the world, chances are that you will become more mindful of their emotions and feelings, thus making you a more empathetic individual.
Be An Active Listener
There is a difference between hearing, and listening. When you hear something, you can just be getting a message without processing it while listening requires you to assimilate information and engage with the people you will be talking to. So for you to become more empathetic, you need to take the time of day to practise active listening so that you can show the other person that you value their thoughts and feelings. This means that you need to do away with anything that may distract you and make you look unfocused. Your nonverbal cues should also align with those of someone who will be listening. Where there is a need for your input, use what you have been told to make a well-informed response that will truly be helpful to the person you are having a conversation with. Put your own needs aside and just actively listen to others.
Stop Making Assumptions
It's human nature to have pre-embedded biases towards certain people. Often though, these biases are wrong and may have been a generalisation of just one person?s behaviour. Therefore, if you act based on these assumptions, chances are that they aren't true, and the person who stands to be hurt by this is the person you are assuming badly about. So instead of judging someone, take time to get to know them so that the illusion of them that you may have, does not affect your ability to be empathetic towards them. Challenge yourself to set aside any of these biases and approach each person with only the information that they directly conveyed to you. Instead of jumping to conclusions about someone?s behaviour or motives, take the time to explore their perspective as this will help you to become a more empathetic individual.
Volunteer
One of the most powerful ways to cultivate empathy is by volunteering. This is because it allows you to step into someone else?s shoes and experience their struggles firsthand. In turn, this experience will open your eyes to the realities that other people face. This experience will, therefore, make you a less-absorbed individual and help you adopt an empathetic personality. So whether you volunteer at a shelter, community project or for other vulnerable communities, when you volunteer, you will deepen your understanding of different life situations, helping you to cultivate your inner empathetic being.
Be Open Minded
One reason why many people lack empathy is because of their unwillingness to acknowledge things that are different from their values and their brief system. However, embracing an open-minded attitude is crucial for fostering empathy as it will help you understand perspectives that are different from yours. If you are open-minded, instead of acting defensive and judgemental, you get to learn about other people around you and become understanding of their way of life, even when you don't agree with it yourself. This willingness to engage with diverse ideas, therefore, enhances your empathy, helping you connect with others on a deeper level.