Empathy is a skill that can be learned
Empathy is a skill that can be practiced just as there are practices we can use to understand our own emotions.
The skill can be practiced by:
- listen to the verbal and non-verbal messages from others
- body movements
- gestures
- physical signs
- use questions to probe feelings rather than just surface-level who/what/when/where
- ask for feedback that you correctly understood their feelings
- acknowledge and respect the feelings of others even if you disagree
- avoid making comments that are judgmental, belittling, rejecting, or undermining
Practicing this skill necessarily leads to higher emotional intelligence and a deeper relationship with others.