Empathy is Real

Empathy isn’t something that’s made up. It’s something that is learned and practiced. 

It’s learned from watching and experiencing how leaders act and interact with people. All kinds of people. People with differing beliefs. People with different values and ideas about how to live life. It’s learned from people hearing their leaders ask questions to understand and have conversations to learn, not debate, judge and condemn. 

Empathy is practiced by spending time with others who aren’t like you. In their spaces. Practicing empathy often involves putting yourself in situations that are outside your comfort zone. That make you uncomfortable. So that you can see and hear what the lives of others are about. 

So that you can see that they, like you, are a valued and valuable human being. Even if they don’t look like you, and don’t believe what you do. 

When your leaders use words that demean and ridicule others (whether it’s your parents, teachers, public figures and politicians to name a few) and act in ways that devalue people, they are not teaching or practicing empathy. They are teaching and practicing hate. 

And that’s what people will learn. Because what we reap is what our leaders sow. 

Empathy and compassion are the foundations of kindness, and it’s what we need all our leaders to be teaching and modeling now. 

So the epidemic of hate and the violence associated with it ends. Thoughts and prayers won’t end gun (and other violence). Our leaders actions to teach empathy, compassion and kindness for all will.