Showing Empathy and Compassion

@BeesOnFlowers

I really believe that empathy and compassion are a mix of both being innate and learned. We might have an innate capacity for them like you experienced as a child. But life experiences can shape how we express those feelings. Besides, it’s so true that many people learn to hide their emotions as they grow up, often feeling that vulnerability is a weakness. 

And I love your idea of unlocking those feelings again—it’s like rediscovering a lost part of ourselves💞 What do you think has helped you nurture your empathy as an adult?

I think empathy is innate and while some can learn a form of empathy (cognitive empathy or sympathy), true empathy (compassionate empathy) comes in with us at a soul level. What you said about it not being something we need to learn, just something we need to rediscover or unlock…this statement is profound!! And absolutely true!

n the western civilization, too much empathy will cause you to be seen as “soft” and often leave some feeling like they’ do not even belong in this world. But we were meant to have profound levels of empathy!! Those with high levels of empathy are more likely to function well in society (from a mental health perspective), have a natural ability to socialize, and more open-minded (readily accepting of other perspectives). Also, they're reported to have more accurate intuition (and higher likelihood that they will use it), more satisfying relationships with connection at a deeper level, and more active neural network with a greater ability to visualize and use their imagination. Those with high levels of empathy are found to be more motivating and motivated (when it comes to goals), more accepting of cultures other than their own, better able to accept and appreciate people for who they are, more self aware, more compassionate and understanding, better active listeners, and are more emotionally intelligent.

I want to share this quote out of a research paper I wrote a few years ago on empathy. It is from a body of research done by Harvard Medical School back in 2017 which included the origins of the discovery of “empathy” and I just love the way it is explained.

‘The concept of empathy was first introduced by aestheticians in the mid-19th century. They used the German word “Einfühlung” to describe the emotional “knowing” of a work of art from within, by feeling an emotional resonance with the work of art. At the end of the 19th century, the psychologist Theodore Lipps expanded this concept to mean “feeling one’s way into the experience of another” by theorizing that inner imitation of the actions of others played a critical role in eliciting empathy. The philosopher Martin Buber added deeper texture to the concept of empathy by describing the empathic relationship as “I and Thou,” versus unempathic disrespect, as “I and It”. In this powerful description, humane respect and concern for the other is contrasted with objectification and dehumanization of another person, which is in evidence too much in today’s societies.’

@BeesOnFlowers Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. This post resonated with me on a personal level and I related to it quite a bit. I am sorry that you were told that tears are shameful and that it was just a bug. I can only imagine how it added to locking those feelings away.

The question posed was whether empathy and compassion is learned or innate? Although we have a natural disposition to developing empathy and compassion, I believe that these traits can be both, learned in some and natural in others. Some seem to be born with temperaments that make them more inclined to be empathetic and compassionate than their counterparts. Alternatively, these same traits can also be learnt; being influenced by social, environmental and cultural factors. Some theories state that when we observe others experience empathy and compassion in our earlier years, we may tend to mirror those emotions, eventually experiencing empathy and compassion ourselves.

Although there is no clear consensus, I consider empathetic and compassionate responses may be triggered based on various components, depending on a host of factors including situation and context. I appreciate reading about your empathetic and compassionate nature here and want to encourage you to keep on being you. 💓

@BeesOnFlowers

I think empathy and compassion are both learned and innate.

I feel like we're all born with the capacity to display empathetic and compassionate behaviors. However, in my opinion, we develop and refine our empathy skills as children through relationships. Then later in life, we can further improve and cultivate those skills with education, therapy, mindfulness and putting ourselves in other peoples shoes.