I read recently that having empathy for others makes you a happy person, and I can totally believe it.
I have been putting my ‘empathy’ mantra into practice over the past little while and it has helped me make better decisions. I then feel good about myself, I am a nicer person and everyone is happy.
Whenever I am in a situation – serving a customer, out in public, driving, whatever, when I think about the other person I think of them with empathy. Sometimes it is hard and I don’t always get there, but most of the time I see things from their point of view and am happy to give way graciously, sometimes figuratively and sometimes literally.
At the very least I think I come across in a more caring way and that in turn often triggers them to be more thoughtful. No matter what, I always feel better afterwards. The few times I’ve thought it was ‘my right’ to do something, even if it was, I’ve had a bad feeling afterwards (and I didn’t like it!).
Even people I dislike, I can feel for them and therefore feel happier for myself if I think of them with empathy. I don’t feel good when I think (or say) bad thoughts about someone, but I would think to myself ‘well they’re x’ as if that made my thoughts valid.
Having empathy takes away the bad thoughts and replaces them with better ones, and so I feel positive and happier rather than negative and picky.
Sometimes I might seem to be ‘giving in’ to someone or being ‘too nice’ for my own good, it actually is for my own good. And it’s not just situations, it’s any time I interact with another human being, I think of them with empathy and all is well.
If you knew me in person you would know I am not the pushover type. I fight for my rights and sometimes I probably go too far for my own peace of mind. So cultivating empathy is beneficial for me.
It’s about finding balance in how we live our life and conduct our day to day moments. When you find something that enhances these it’s like a blessing from above.