Empathy: Do you know it?

The ability to truly understand someones position

What exactly is empathy?  Do you know?  Google it.  Now think about some past memories where you were in a situation, where you had to try and understand what someone was going through.  Did you tell them that you knew what they were going through?  Or you’ve been there?  Were you though?  Did you actually experience the exact same thing?  Unlikely.  However, you can imagine what it must have felt like.  That is empathy.  Most people are quite capable of being empathetic to the people they care about.  That empathy, is how we are able to show love to someone who is hurting.  Could you show empathy to a stranger?  Probably.  I’m sure you’ve seen the homeless people out there.  Have you ever helped them?  Do you feel bad for them, and their lifestyle?  Do you ever wish you could do more to help them?  What do you think you could do for them?  Could you offer them housing?  Probably not.  What about clothes?  How about food?  Can you offer them a job, or some other way of getting off the street?  Have you ever considered just sitting with them and listening to their story?  How they became homeless?  Do you even care enough to ask?  Unfortunately, most people dont.  And, if you are in that category, then I bet you have some unresolved issues of your own that you need to deal with.  Why?  I’m glad you asked.  Stop frowning and keep reading.

People who have experienced their own trauma’s and haven’t dealt with them in a healthy way, are blocked.  Because of their own trauma, and the coping mechanisms they developed as a way of protecting themselves, blocks them from being able to be empathetic to others.  They are blocked from trying to understand others.  Blocked from having the ability to sit with them and talk.  There isn’t any room.  Because of the adolescent coping mechanisms they developed, they effectively blocked the most important part of them.  Their ability to show love to other’s in their times of need.  It’s too difficult for them to allow anymore drama/trauma into their lives.  Instead, they silently push people away and then the cycle continues.  They form a judgement based on immature ignorance, and never look at it again.  

I know this because I’ve done it.  It wasn’t until I dealt with my own trauma’s that I was able to fully unlock my truest self.  

If you didn’t hear it with your own ears, or see it with your own eyes, then don’t spread it with your mouth.  

It’s easy to pass a judgement.  

What could you be missing though?  You could miss out on the opportunity to make a new friend.  You could learn something.  You could even find your own healing in it.  

Wouldn’t it be better though, if we took the time to try to understand?  Imagine the incredible blessings you could experience, if for once, you just tried?  Open your minds my friends.  We stand to learn so much by learning to understand others.  The freedom that comes with owning your own truth, and being truly compassionate with other’s is indescribable.  

I challenge you to try it.  What could go wrong?  In truth, you have nothing to lose.  So what are you waiting for?

❤️ 

Always Love & Light