We’ve all experienced moments when someone shares a challenge, frustration, or concern and our first instinct is to fix it. While solutions can be helpful, people don’t always need answers right away. Sometimes, they simply need to feel heard.
Empathy is the ability to understand and connect with another person’s perspectives. It doesn’t require us to have experienced the same situation or know exactly what to say. Instead, empathy asks us to listen with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to understand.
Practicing empathy doesn’t mean taking on someone else’s problems. It means creating space for people to share their experience without judgement. In doing so, we strengthen relationships, build trust, and create opportunities for meaningful connection. In our communities, at work, or at home, empathy can help us better understand the people around us and the experiences that shape their perspectives.
Try One Small Step
The next time someone shares a challenge or frustration, pause before offering advice or solutions. Instead, try asking a thoughtful question or simply listening to understand. Sometimes people need solutions. Sometimes they simply need to know they’ve been heard.
Empathy vs. Sympathy
Understanding the difference between empathy and sympathy can help us approach conversations with greater awareness and compassion. In this short animated video, researcher and storyteller Brené Brown explains why empathy helps create connection and why our responses matter when someone shares a difficult experience.
Content credit: Carey Musburger, Sr. Assistant, HRS Learning and Organizational Development
