Apr 7, 2020
In a world disrupted by a pandemic, it may be difficult to express empathy for other people. The unknown can be scary, and we might be anxious about our own finances, health, and survival. Yet, we need empathy for each other now more than ever. How do you practice empathy, especially in a time of distress? My wife, Yvonne (Rainbow) Teplitsky—artist, founder & owner of Artsy Goddess Studio—believes that we need to have empathy for ourselves first to have the capacity to have empathy for others.
Today, Yvonne and I discuss the power of cultivating empathy. We illustrate how empathy can reduce stress and build trust in relationships and share our experiences with giving and receiving it. We define the meaning of empathy and its difference from sympathy. We explore the different ways of cultivating empathy and how parents can teach their children to be more empathetic through ways like role modeling. We also underscore the value of empathy in today’s time of crisis and uncertainty and discuss how it can foster compassion.
“We can listen, but we don’t have to fix it. It’s enough to witness, look into their eyes, and show empathy.” - Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky
This week on Relationships! Let’s Talk About It:
- Cultivating empathy in our relationship
- A recent example of how Yvonne expressed empathy
- Emotional mirroring and the different ways of conveying empathy
- The difference between sympathy and empathy
- What empathy fatigue is and how you can avoid it
- How always trying to be right affects relationships
- How to teach boys to be more empathetic
- How literary fiction can help us be more empathetic
- The physical and psychological blocks that prevent us from being empathetic in relationships
- Social distancing and how empathy can foster compassion
- The role of empathy in the time of the COVID-19 crisis
Related Content:
- Pandemic Series: Navigating Your Relationships
- The Art of Apology
- Setting Boundaries Without Feeling Guilty
- Emotional Regulation
Connect with Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky:
Let’s Talk About It!
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Theme music “These Streets” provided by Adi the Monk