How to Cultivate Empathy Through Self-Discovery

What if one small change to your way of thinking could change how much empathy you naturally show to those around you? It's all in the stories our brains tell about others. The ability to create a narrative based on almost no data is an incredible capability our brains have. The problem is that we get used to listening to it. When my son was struggling to get ready for school for the third day in a row, I wanted to scream at him. The story I told myself is that he should be better at this. He is doing this on purpose. When something I did in jest to lighten the mood caused him to break down into tears, I realized that I had the story all wrong. He wasn't causing the situation. It was happening to him. He was struggling in ways that I was missing because I was busy telling myself a different story. Instantly I felt the shift from frustration and anger to empathy and concern. If I had started from the story that he was doing his best and needed support, I could have skipped the misery in the middle. I have the power to make that story the one I listen to. To ignore the first drafts that my brain comes up with on its own. We all do. It takes training and self-awareness, but learning to focus on the most charitable story we can come up with will instantly increase our empathy. Assume positive intent until it is proven wrong beyond a shadow of a doubt. Forgiveness, empathy, and compassion will be readily available when you do. https://lnkd.in/e_WFABaz

The power of self-reflection is a transformative force that allows us to delve deep into our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, fostering personal growth and development. Furthermore, self-reflection fosters empathy and understanding towards other’s perspectives and experiences.   Some tips that have helped me on this journey:   Set Aside Time: Carving out dedicated time for self-reflection – Whether it's a few minutes each day or a longer period once a week, I try and commit to this practice regularly.   Create a Quiet Space: For me it’s in my backyard, but this could be a peaceful corner of your home, a park, or anywhere else that allows you to focus without interruption.   Ask Yourself Questions: I believe in using open-ended questions to guide my reflection process. Questions such as "What are my strengths and opportunity areas?" "What did I learn from recent experiences?" "What are my long-term goals?" These questions can help stimulate deeper introspection; I also make sure I revisit them on a regular basis.   Writing down thoughts and feelings: This can be a powerful tool for self-reflection which I personally found most difficult to follow, but I keep trying to get better at it, most recently I have started writing for 15 – 30 mins daily using journal on my phone/iPad. Initially I feel my writings didn’t make much sense, but I am getting better at it 😊   Practice Mindfulness: Deep breathing with my eyes closed help me focus on the present moment and observe my thoughts and emotions without judgment. Mindfulness can help develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and our experiences.   Seek Feedback: I strongly believe “Feedback is a Gift”, that being said I filter some of it to keep focus on what aligns to my purpose and goal (not forgetting the other feedback but just stacking them in order of what aligns more with my person purpose and goal). Being open to constructive criticism and using it as an opportunity for growth has helped me immensely and continues to do so.   Set Clear Goals: Using self-reflection to set meaningful goals for myself, considering what I want to achieve in various aspects of life and outline actionable steps to work towards those goals. This helps me break my larger goals into actionable items.     Celebrate Progress: Most of us enjoy being recognized and rewarded. Coming up with self-incentive plans and pausing to celebrate achievements keeps me moving ahead. My family constantly help me come up with creative ways to celebrate success and enjoy every small achievement with me, also keeping me honest on what I can do better to continue growing and evolving.   Remember, self-reflection is a journey, and it takes time and dedication to develop self-awareness and insight. Be patient with yourself and approach the process with kindness and compassion.

🦄 Recently I was asked “How can I help your mission” So I asked the question back “How can you help my mission? What is “my” mission and further what is “your” mission?” The phrase "You can't help others until you know yourself" underscores the importance of self-awareness and personal growth as prerequisites for effectively assisting or guiding others. One must possess: 📌 Self-awareness: Understanding your own values, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses is crucial. This self-knowledge enables you to navigate your interactions and interventions with others more effectively, ensuring that your help is genuinely beneficial and not inadvertently harmful. 📌 Emotional Intelligence: Part of knowing yourself is being in tune with your emotions and understanding how they influence your behavior. With high emotional intelligence, you can empathize with others, manage your emotional responses, and communicate more effectively, which is essential in offering support or guidance. 📌 Clear Boundaries: Knowing yourself helps in establishing healthy boundaries. Without a clear sense of one’s own needs, limits, and desires, there's a risk of overextending oneself or becoming overly involved in others’ issues, which can lead to burnout or enablement rather than authentic help. 📌 Authenticity: When you know and are true to yourself, you interact with others more authentically. Authenticity fosters trust and credibility, which are foundational for any meaningful assistance or mentorship. 📌 Personal Growth: Self-knowledge encourages personal growth. By continually seeking to understand yourself better, you not only improve your own life but also increase your capacity to contribute positively to the lives of others. To be effective in helping others, one must first undertake the journey of self-discovery and personal development. I’m thankful for those on this journey called life who are grounded in who they are, they show up, and they know how they can contribute- they’re invaluable!