Fostering Empathy Within Yourself & Others
When we think about empathy, it’s easy to label it as something purely positive. After all, empathy is about understanding and sharing the feelings of others—what could be wrong with that? However, the truth behind that emotion can be far more complex, and it’s worth taking a closer look at what empathy really is, and how it affects each of us.
What Is Empathy, Really?
Empathy is often defined as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” This definition captures the essence of what it means to connect with others on an emotional level, but here’s where it gets tricky–in our society, we’ve been conditioned to have inherent biases, and these biases extend into how we feel empathy. Mainly, it can influence who we experience empathy for. We might naturally feel more empathy toward those who are similar to us, those who share our experiences, backgrounds, or beliefs—while struggling to extend the same empathy to those we find too different from us.
This selective empathy can lead to unintended consequences, unfair or unjustified thought patterns about groups of people, and a plethora of social flaws, such as racism, sexism, ableism, etc. An interesting perspective on this comes from Paul Bloom, a psychology professor at Yale University. In his book on empathy, Bloom argues that empathy can actually make us “biased, tribal, and often cruel,” which highlights the notion that while we as humans are capable of feeling empathy for other people, we can also feel the exact opposite–prejudice, indifference, even open hostility.
A Double-Edged Sword
Bloom’s argument challenges the conventional wisdom that empathy is an unconditionally-positive emotion. He points out that empathy can sometimes reinforce our biases and further divide us, rather than bring us together. Our natural inclination to empathize with those who are similar to us can actually make it harder for us to feel compassion for those who are different–leading to the potential of exclusionary behavior.
Although this is a valid concern when interacting with others, most still believe that empathy’s benefits vastly outweigh its potential downsides. Like any powerful emotion, empathy needs to be practiced mindfully. Just as we scrutinize other widely-praised concepts, we should also critically examine empathy to ensure that we’re following the powerful emotion towards its positive outcomes while avoiding those potentially-harmful pitfalls.
Practicing Empathy Mindfully
So, how do we avoid those pitfalls when experiencing empathy for others as we go about our lives? The key is to balance our empathetic responses–while it’s natural to empathize more easily with those who share our experiences or backgrounds, we are also capable of broadening our capacity for empathy by intentionally exposing ourselves to diverse perspectives.
One effective method is to regularly engage with different cultures. While traveling may not always be an option–you can still experience new cultures locally! On event sites or apps such as Eventbrite, you can find affordable, cultural experiences such as community-led cooking courses, culturally-significant workshops or festivals, and much more. Additionally, learning about different cultures and immersing ourselves in diverse environments can help us develop a more inclusive and expansive sense of empathy–and a cost-effective way to conduct research can be using the free resources available at most community libraries.
This is also where workplaces can play a crucial role. Many organizations are recognizing the importance of empathy in creating a positive and productive work culture for all workers. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, empathy training, and efforts to build culturally- and demographically-diverse teams are all equally-important steps towards empowering every member of our society. These practices help foster stronger communities–both within the workplace and beyond–and encourage a mindset that values understanding and compassion.
The Role of Empathy in Professional Success
The importance of empathy isn’t just limited to personal relationships—it’s also crucial in the workplace. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, emphasized this in his commencement speech at MIT in 2017, where he urged graduates not to separate empathy from their careers–a message that still resonates with leaders today. At the time of his speech, 20% of U.S. employers were offering empathy training for managers, and more recently, a survey of 150 CEOs found that over 80% view empathy as key to success.
These statistics reflect a growing recognition of the value of empathy in the professional world–and even though Tim Cook has a larger platform, every advocation for empathy has the potential to have a resounding impact in your community.
More Than a Feeling
Empathy is a term that's often thrown around, but it’s commonly confused with sympathy. While both qualities are integral to our humanity, they are fundamentally different in their nature and impact. Empathy goes beyond mere understanding—it’s an emotion deeply ingrained in our mindset. It’s a sense of responsibility that we feel towards all living beings, whether it’s humans, animals, plants, the environment, or even our planet, Mother Earth. When we are empathetic, we make a genuine effort to understand another person’s perspective, treating them with dignity and accepting them just as they are.
Practicing empathy isn’t always easy or convenient. It often requires us to step out of our comfort zones and challenge our preconceived notions. However, this is precisely what makes empathy such a profound and transformative value. It elevates us as individuals, setting us apart by fostering deeper connections and understanding. Empathy is more than just an emotion; it’s like a ripple effect—meditative, magnetic, and contagious. Just like a smile that spreads from one person to another, empathy can create a chain reaction of kindness and understanding. In today’s world, where we face daunting challenges such as climate change, wars, discrimination, isolation, and indecisiveness, adopting an empathetic attitude can be a powerful tool for change. By embracing empathy, we not only enhance our own lives but also contribute to a more compassionate and connected world.
In a time when the world often feels divided and disconnected, empathy is the glue that can hold us together. It’s a force that can help us navigate the complexities of modern life, bringing us closer to a future where understanding and kindness prevail.
Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, while empathy is generally seen as a positive emotion, it’s important to recognize its complexities. Empathy can have both positive and negative effects, depending on how it’s practiced. By approaching empathy with mindfulness and a commitment to inclusivity, we can harness its power to create more compassionate, understanding, and connected communities—both in our personal lives and in the workplace.
Empathy, when practiced thoughtfully, has the potential to be one of the most powerful tools we have for building a better world. But like any tool, it must be used carefully and with intention. By broadening our perspectives and embracing diversity, we can ensure that our empathy serves as a bridge rather than a barrier, bringing us closer together in our shared humanity.
Resource List
A comprehensive list of the resources found in this blog post—in order of appearance.
“It’s cool to be kind: The value of empathy at work.” McKinsey & Company.
“Why every generation thinks people were nicer in the past.” Vox.
“Compassion is making a comeback in America.” Vox.
“Toward a Hierarchical Model of Social Cognition: A Neuroimaging Meta-Analysis and Integrative Review of Empathy and Theory of Mind.” Psycnet.
“Do we have more empathy for people who are similar to us?” Phys.org.
“Empathy articles from across Nature Portfolio.” Nature.com.
“5 key leadership behaviors you must have.” BetterUp.