Life can sometimes feel quite hard and challenging. Nowadays, we live in a world full of differing opinions. This isn’t technically different from how it’s always been, it’s just that we now have platforms for all these opinions to be aired. As such, you can often struggle with everything that’s going on. There are so many problems in the world, and so many voices all screaming at once. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of getting annoyed by something someone says, and then picking sides in arguments that lead you down a slippery slope to being someone you don’t want to be.
Instead, you just need a bit of empathy in your daily life. It is so much easier to take people’s opinions and make sense of them when you’re empathetic. So, how can you do this? Here are a few ideas:
Go on some courses
Empathy is all about understanding other people’s points of view. One good way to get into this mindset is by going on courses to learn more about certain viewpoints. Pick certain ideologies that you might currently struggle to get your head around – like religion. You see lots of people of faith make claims or take strong stances on certain key issues in society. If you went on a Christian course or learned more about Islam, perhaps you’d have a better sense of why people have these opinions. It can help you realize that sometimes these opinions come from a good place, and they’re actually not that bad at all. Or, at the very least, you start to understand why people voice certain opinions. When you learn why people say things, it’s so much easier to not get mad or annoyed at them – even if you disagree.
Talk to people
Courses or educational programs can be extremely useful if you have a very specific viewpoint you’re trying to understand. But, what if you’re out with friends and one of them says something that you can’t get your head around? Here, one of the easiest things you can do to show empathy is to talk to them. Talking to people gives you a chance to help them open up and explain things in more detail.
Remember, empathy isn’t just about taking points you disagree with and trying to see someone else’s perspective. It’s also about hearing people’s troubles and putting yourself in their shoes to see how they feel. Talking to friends or family and offering them the opportunity to divulge their thoughts will really help you do this.
Ultimately, adding more empathy to your world can help you upgrade your life. A life without empathy is one that’s usually filled with anger and annoyance. You will find that many of the annoying things in life are easier to bear or make sense of when you are empathetic. The good news is, it doesn’t take much to add empathy to your life. It all boils down to two simple ideas – learn more about different opinions and viewpoints, and talk to people!
*Collaborative Post