The power of empathy to ease the suffering of someone else

In this beautifully animated video Dr. Brené Brown reminds us in a funny but authentic way that the best way to ease someone’s pain and suffering is to genuinely empathize with the other person.

What makes something better is connection.

Dr Brené Brown is a research professor studying on topics like vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame and best-selling author of “Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead”. In the video she references Theresa Wiseman, who studied professions where empathy is relevant, and her identification of the 4 following qualities of empathy:

  • Perspective taking
  • Staying out of judgement
  • Recognizing emotions in other people
  • Communicating that

The next time your friend is talking his or her problems away, remember this lesson and try to show empathy instead of sympathy. We often tend to give advises, when in fact, we should rather stick to Wiseman’s quality factors. Did you have an experience when you had a positive impact on someone else by showing empathy?