Well, to begin with am replying in the middle of the week because I couldn't respond since last week Friday that you've released the article. Busy up here and there.................bzzzzzzzy
On empathy I could say I began to be empathic by several things have experienced over time. With this new experience, i will agree with you that we can learn empathy.@abigail-dantes, for some times now, your post has been hitting me hard and I couldn't hide the fact that I have been experiencing some modifications.
Nevertheless, it has been stated that empathy is also something that we are able to learn throughout our lives.
So I would say that am learning to develop listening ear, not that am a psychopath but I always want to define boundary in every relationship, possibly because some people had abuse my trust. Imagine someone telling you that she lost a close relative just to seek for your empathy, and you eventually discovered that it wasn't true. Well that is just one example in several occasions.
Also I think some people lost that trait (if i could refer to empathy as a trait) because they could not stand a gory scene like myself, because for weeks the memory will still be fresh in their mind........ However, developing listening ear can help us a lot to be more sympathetic/empathic. Some might decide not to go near the fire accident scene because a picture of what the scene would look like would have been created in their mind in my opinion.
All the same, thanks for this beautiful piece, it has nourished me again, keep on firing this type of post for us.
You are blessed.😘😘😘
Have you ever found yourself responding judgmentally towards someone who was in clear distress?
Yes, a colleague of mine at work some years back while staying together got his finger cut by knife in the kitchen, he raised alarm, but we refused to answer him because we thought he was joking as his usual practice, until I went to checked him that was when I knew it was not a joke this time around. I have already thought he wanted to take us for a ride until I checked him out. ...... But was that a clear distress? I wouldn't say.😁😁😁😂
ANY time is a great time to hear from you my dear @steepup :) Believe me, I understand what is like to have a busy routine 😅
Oh, wow ... that example you shared with me here, of someone seeking your attention is truly extreme one. I can only imagine the shock you experienced when you learnt the truth! Some people do resort to intense ways to be liked, or empathized with; sometimes that happens because of psychological issues, others because of low moral values.
But, please note that, empathy is not about being able to stand what we visually cannot deal with, for example the scenario of burning homes. Empathy is mostly about understudying how serious that situation is, and what it might have cost to the people who were directly involved in it.
As for your friend's example, if he is a prankster, I suppose your reaction was only natural 😆 "we thought he was joking as his usual practice". Still, it is always nice to responded with respect towards people's painful experiences when they are real. But, a great thing you said here is that you have consciously adopted the habit of listening to people and paying attention to what they say in a non-judgmental way.
I am a great believer of the moto "kindness begets kindness". Also, I really respect you for being brave enough to look into yourself, acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately, have the courage to adopt news ways of being. For me this is true strength!
Thank you for always being so kind to me my dear.
Your words are very, very loving and encouraging.
You have a special heart! 😊 😘
Thanks am glad knowing you on this platform.