The Letter E – Empathy
We are in a period of unprecedented, unwanted change, change that has been thrust upon us by the corona virus, Covid-19. We do not have a clear understanding of when this crisis will end and what the world will look like afterwards.
As an experienced life coach, I have decided to use my coaching skills and take the word TOGETHER, and do a series of positive blog posts and podcasts for each of the letters in this word, to give you a set of tools and techniques to help you and the people you are connected to, effectively deal with this period of unwanted change.
The fourth letter E in TOGETHER stands for “Empathy.“
The unwanted change caused by Covid-19 has presented many opportunities, including the opportunity to show, experience and practice empathy.
“Empathy” is defined as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another and to show compassion to others.”
“One of the best ways to stand TOGETHER during Covid-19 is to show and practice empathy and compassion towards each other.”
Stephen Lesavich, PhD
Scientific research has shown that when you feel empathy and show compassion, your heart rate slows down, your heart space begins to open and your brain begins to secrete the hormone oxytocin.
Many researchers have called oxytocin the “bonding hormone.”
“Practicing empathy and showing compassion generates oxytocin, the bonding homorone.”
Secretion of oxytocin activates the region of your brain that results in you wanting to approach and care for other people. Oxytocin helps generate feelings of love, generosity and trust. It that generation of trust through release of oxytocin that inspired neuroeconomist Paul Zak to call oxytocin “the moral molecule.”
So how do you practice empathy and show compassion to others who are suffering during Covid19?
- Acknowledge Those Who are Suffering. A first step to practicing empathy and showing compassion is to acknowledge those people in your life who are currently suffering. Simply just witnessing the person, listening to why they are suffering without judgement, understanding their pain and confirming they are suffering and in pain will generate oxytocin in their body and in your body creating a personal bond between both of you. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand the suffering from their point of view. You can say things like, “I understand how you feel, I am sorry you are going through this, I feel your pain, etc.” to acknowledge those who are suffering.
- Open Your Heart To Connect with Those Who are Suffering. The practice of empathy and showing compassion also includes opening your heart and connecting to others who are suffering. Connecting to others through your heart space allows you to feel your own emotions and the emotions of others from the inside out, in every encounter and every interaction. To open your heart space, share your own thoughts and your emotions with the those that are suffering. Also share your own thoughts and emotions about how you are suffering yourself. Connecting to others through your heart space creates another type of personal bond to those who are suffering. You can connect with your heart space even practicing social distancing.
- Take Positive Actions to Ease the Suffering of Others. To practice empathy and live in a compassionate manner, you must take positive actions from your heart space and connect to others that you encounter in your daily life to ease their suffering. The positive actions can be very small steps even while practicing social distancing such as smiling at someone, checking in on someone, doing an errand for someone, buying some groceries for someone, completing a small chore for someone, saying a kind word, etc.. Taking positive actions also helps create personal bonds to those who are suffering.
Practicing empathy and showing compassion will create a positive impact in the lives of anyone you encounter who is suffering.
Remember, we are all in this together. Things will get better.
Stay safe, stay healthy and stay home…
Out There on the Edge of Everything®…
Stephen Lesavich, PhD
Copyright © 2020, by Stephen Lesavich, PhD. All rights reserved.
Certified solution-focused life coach and experienced business coach.
If you would to receive personal coaching by Dr. Lesavich, please visit his life coaching web-site for additional information.
Click Here to listen to the Podcast associated with this blog post.
Award-winning and best-selling Author, Entrepreneur, Visionary, CEO of 2 different companies, Attorney, Tech Expert, Certified Solution-Focused Life Coach, Experienced Business Coach.