Empathy is a connection; it's a ladder out of the shame hole. Not only do others help me climb out of the shame hole by listening and loving me, but they make themselves vulnerable by sharing that they, too, had spent some time in that same hole. Empathy doesn't require that we have the exact same experiences as the person sharing their story with us. Empathy is connecting with the emotion that someone is experiencing, and not the same event or circumstance. Shame is dissipated the minute I realize that I am not alone--that my experiences are human. Empathy is a strange and powerful thing. There is no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It's simply listening, holding space, withholding judgement, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of, "You're not alone."
From Brene Brown, Daring Greatly.
From Brene Brown, Daring Greatly.
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