Empathy is a tricky thing, so going into a season of chaos and potential overwhelm, here is a cheat sheet on all things empathy.  

Empathy is NOT:

• An admission of guilt or confirming negative intent.  

• It’s not the icing on the cake of relationships.

• It’s not something you’re born with and therefore you’re out of luck if you didn’t inherit that gene.

• Empathy isn’t about sharing beliefs or experiences.

• And it’s definitely not weakness.

Empathy at its core is one of the greatest connectors you have at your fingertips.  

Empathy IS:

• Compassion, connection, listening, and responding.

• Can be learned, improved, and enhanced.

• Empathy is a give-and-take. It’s reciprocal and meant to be exchanged.

• It’s a vital connector in ALL your relationships.

• Empathy is rooted in listening not assuming.
  
  

Remember, empathy is essential in your relationship.

And it’s really about communicating, ‘I’m here now’.  

Don’t forget to slow down and practice all things empathy as you move through this season.

Until next week,

-A

P.S. I know how transformative empathy can be IN your relationship and how destructive it can be when it’s NOT there.  Remember, empathy can be improved, so please reach out if your relationship can benefit from some tuned-up empathy… I’m here to help.