Empathy is the internal identification of oneself with another person, the ability to compassion, which is a gift from above. Among his family and friends, such a person is appreciated for being able to understand everyone. What this quality is, how it is manifested, is described in the article.
Emotional empathy
Feelings and emotions of other people allow you to penetrate such a quality as emotional empathy. This is a very important feature for supporting relatives and friends, which significantly helps to establish positive contacts with others. Such communication is based on the understanding of other people at the level of the slightest changes in the expression of their faces or even minor gestures.
Professionals believe that a person who is able to experience empathy sees the world through the eyes of an interlocutor and even hears the same sounds, thinks the same way. In principle, everyone wants to have such a friend. Therefore, a logical question arises: What is empathy and from whom does it occur? This quality is mainly present in teachers, doctors, trade workers, managers.
Pitfalls of compassion
The ability to empathize can very often be lost in childhood, when peers respond with laughter and cruelty to the manifestation of compassion in a child. But if he still manages to carry his character traits through the years, then this is direct evidence of a developed and kind personality.
Such a person is able to find positive qualities in any passerby. This may not happen every day, but during such periods he experiences a state of deep harmony. Although the world is capable of injuring not only in childhood, but also in adulthood. If a person does not find a response or understanding in others, then he begins to consider himself more developed in comparison with them. He feels annoyed and limits his circle of acquaintances as much as possible.
There are people who, feeling empathy with another person, are so carried away by his feelings that they are completely immersed in other people's problems and cannot stop. It is better for these individuals to be careful with compassion.
There are also manipulators that are simply looking for good people. They certainly do not threaten empath, because he recognizes them at a deep level. But to depreciate someone else’s story, even if it is a manipulation of pure water, is not worth it. This step can turn the interlocutor into a hidden ill-wisher. After all, what is empathy really? This is not a limitation, but an understanding. Therefore, it is preferable to internally stop yourself, not to delve into the monologue and leave at the first opportunity.
Character features of a sympathizer
A person empathized is somewhat difficult with those who speak little. But with people who want to speak out, he converges easily. But the sympathizer is incapable of getting into the soul and injuring him for a simple reason: he felt the interlocutor well and is vividly aware of what such a blow will be for a person. Although in reality, people with the ability to a high level of mental and emotional development can sympathize.
Many are afraid to get bogged down in someone else's life, but this is also impossible for true empathy. What is empathy in the first place? This is precisely understanding, and not taking on troubles and fears with the subsequent opportunity to get to the hospital. It is very important to limit yourself and stop any attacks on your personal space in time.
In fact, not everyone can take the side of the interlocutor. There are people experiencing their joys and sorrows inside. It is more difficult for them to show full sympathy. In addition, it is always very unpleasant to see artificially created behavior.
What is it for
Mostly people who can empathize with are simple and naive. But do not take this as a rule. Empath may well reveal the inner qualities of a person for a specific purpose. For example, to identify the weaknesses of the competitor of the company in which he works.
But do not consider him a professional psychologist. He is able to get out of a difficult situation, see everything multifaceted, but does not know the scientific justification for what is happening, and there is no clear logical plan in his behavior.
People with empathy and compassion are able to organize supportive groups. The meaning of creating such a structure in mutual assistance. But in such cases, few people take into account that the meaning of the group is exhausted after working through a unified situation. Participants become strangers who do not have common topics.
This quality can help in family, friendships, at work, in unforeseen situations, with random passers-by. In principle, being able to show a sense of empathy without going beyond the bounds of what is permissible is also an ability from above. Indeed, the interlocutors, seeing a sincerely understanding person, are often inclined to open up and tell him many of their problems.
How does true empathy manifest itself
What is empathy? This is the ability to fully understand the other to such an extent as to exclude even the slightest possibility of condemnation. Empathy is always combined with the feelings of the narrator, looking at the world through his eyes. He does not criticize, does not say:
- "And what, you could not do so and so?"
- "Why didn't you answer him?"
- "It was necessary this and that ..."
- "But I would ..."
He understands that in a certain situation, his interlocutor could behave only as he did in reality.
It is much more pleasant to live in a world in which they do not ask too much and correctly understand what has been said. However, it often turns out that the usual question for someone drives the conversation into a dead end, putting the person in an uncomfortable position. But does someone who has suffered a solution need someone’s superficial advice from the outside? Empathy is a very necessary quality that should not be completely suppressed in fear of being misunderstood. The main thing is to learn how to separate yourself and the problems of the narrator, taking his worldview.