Gooooood morning!
Today I want to discuss what I consider one of the most important life skills you’ll ever learn: empathy.
Empathy is attempting to understand someone else’s perspective. You may have heard the saying “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.” Empathy is thinking beyond yourself and your own experiences and concerns.
I would like you to watch two videos. The first video talks a bit about brain science, so hang in there because then it discusses how you can actually practice empathy. The second video describes empathy in action.
The Importance of Empathy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzPMMSKfKZQ
Brene Brown on Empathy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HznVuCVQd10
As you’ll learn, “empathy helps us challenge prejudices, find commonality, and expand our moral universe. Without empathy, we are apt to label people outside our circle as “other,” “the problem,” or “the enemy.”
So, my challenge to you is to start to try this out. The second video pointed out that empathy is a choice, so I challenge you to:
*Be observant of others
*Use active listening (bonus points for you if you remember me talking about this before!)
*Open up
*Stay out of judgment
*Recognize emotions in others and express that to them
Learning how to be empathic may take time, but it is a crucial life skill.
Have a great day!!
-Ms. Kierstead
Today I want to discuss what I consider one of the most important life skills you’ll ever learn: empathy.
Empathy is attempting to understand someone else’s perspective. You may have heard the saying “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.” Empathy is thinking beyond yourself and your own experiences and concerns.
I would like you to watch two videos. The first video talks a bit about brain science, so hang in there because then it discusses how you can actually practice empathy. The second video describes empathy in action.
The Importance of Empathy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzPMMSKfKZQ
Brene Brown on Empathy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HznVuCVQd10
As you’ll learn, “empathy helps us challenge prejudices, find commonality, and expand our moral universe. Without empathy, we are apt to label people outside our circle as “other,” “the problem,” or “the enemy.”
So, my challenge to you is to start to try this out. The second video pointed out that empathy is a choice, so I challenge you to:
*Be observant of others
*Use active listening (bonus points for you if you remember me talking about this before!)
*Open up
*Stay out of judgment
*Recognize emotions in others and express that to them
Learning how to be empathic may take time, but it is a crucial life skill.
Have a great day!!
-Ms. Kierstead