Take an extra five minutes to listen and ask questions before trying to connect with the other person
Abby Delouya RMFT-CCC, CPTT
When we express empathy, it facilitates genuine human connection. And when another person perceives you as empathetic, she feels understood, respected, and valued, and you establish yourself as someone who is likable and trustworthy. Empathy is important to cultivate and teach to your children. But how do you develop empathy?
1) Actively listen: don’t interrupt; listen more than you speak; and ask questions that reflect back what you heard.
2) Join them by relating: try to imagine in detail what the other person is going through. Mentally experience the moment as if it were happening to you, and let your emotions guide you.
3) Be vulnerable: by sharing our insecurities and mistakes, we connect through our common humanity. This common ground is one of the most important foundations you can lay in a relationship.
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