Empathy - 5

How To Develop Your Empathy

Empathy is a trait that improves with time, and the more you develop this trait, the more it will benefit your life. Basically, when you make the intention to be empathetic with other people, your practice will in turn improve your empathic abilities. Dr. Carl Rogers describes being empathetic as an almost “mystical” experience, because it is as if you almost become the other person.

The first step is to make the intention to try to “walk in the shoes” of others. The next step is to understand yourself and your own feelings better. The better you understand your inner world, the better you will understand the inner world of others. Realize that your life experiences help you to develop your empathy, so make a point to use your life experiences to improve this trait.

From Experiences: The next time you have an experience that arouses strong emotions of some kind, tell yourself to use this experience to become more empathetic. For example, the next time you are very sick, notice your feelings of perhaps hopelessness or negativity (or any other feeling). Make a mental note of this experience and use it to feel empathy for other ill people in the future!

The purpose of showing empathy is to improve your life along with the lives of others, by spreading compassion, care and comfort. Being empathetic does not mean that we put the needs of others above our own needs. 

"Empathy is a tool that we use to make more effective decisions and to show that we care"

In future articles, I will discuss how empathy can be used to improve specific situations and relationships, such as marriage, parenting, and work. I hope that you will choose today to make this golden trait a part of you to become a more compassionate, productive Muslim just like our beloved Prophet In sha Allah! 



Let us know in the comments below if you have any other tips for developing empathy or how it has helped you in your life.