Empathy is the honour of listening for feelings and what people value in the present moment however they express that. We trust people’s innate wisdom to know themselves and follow their own path. In contrast, Empathy isn’t fixing, advising, or comparing another’s story to our own. Empathy isn’t trying to change the other person’s situation or feelings. It isn’t sympathy, where we share the same feelings as the other person. Instead, we are invited to witness life unfold as is. Empathy, like advise and reassurance, is one way to offer support to the ones we love. Cathy Bucher and Wendy McDonnell offer a practice of empathy and a way to respond when siblings fight.
Listen to the Podcast (by either clicking here or right click to save)
Aired live: Sunday, April 3, 2011 0800-0900 Eastern Standard Time on CFRU 93.3 FM, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
References: The Center for Nonviolent Communication and Family Heart Camp
Hi Wendy;
as usual, I enjoyed listening. few spot of the broadcast never came through,but I’m feeling that was due to the glitches going on. It amazes me how things sound so easy to do and yet in the moment it is so hard to take those few seconds to connect before reacting. All boils down to pratice I guess, and trust. That seems to be a biggie with a lot of things.