Empathy

em·pa·thy

1. Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives.

2. The attribution of one's own feelings to an object.

Have you ever been in a situation where you either needed to put yourself "in someone else's shoes," or need them to put themselves in your shoes? I have put myself in someone else's shoes and although it was not an easy thing to do, it has helped me understand their situation more sympathetically. Empathy can be quite empowering. To me, being able to do this is important as I may find myself in the same situation one day, and it may help change my perspective dramatically from what I originally thought I would do. Empathy really helps one understand that you can't judge a book by its cover and to see that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

I had a situation today where I really needed the person to be empathic to my situation but instead, that person got angry with me and what I was saying. My goal was not to anger the person, but to get them to understand how I feel. If that person could have put themselves "in my shoes" for just a few minutes, then it could have been easily seen where I am coming from. Of course, you cannot make a person do anything, but if they want to really understand you, then they sometimes need to step back and listen to what you are saying.

Quote:
Understanding is more important than communicating or solving the problem.

This could be me (no it is not me physically):

Song in my head:

Galaxie 500 "Sorry"

Well I'm sorry `bout the weather

And I'm sorry that the drive was much too far

Seems like everything is business

And we're sorry all the time

When we're home (All alone)

What is home? (On your own)

Home is home (All Alone)

Where we love the weather

Are you sorry that you love me?

Am I sorry I love you too?

Seems it doesn't make a difference

That we're sorry all the time

When we're home (All alone)

What is home? (On your own)

Home is home (All Alone)

Where we love the weather

All alone (What is home?)

On my own (What is home?)

All alone (Home is home)

And I love the weather