The Human Library: reading people instead of books
Have you ever heard about someone living with a condition and wished you knew more? Maybe you were streaming a drama about someone living with a rare disease, or you read a piece that mentioned a particular trauma. Your human empathy kicked in and you wanted to know what it was like living as the Read More...
Genuine empathy or people-pleasing? Here’s how to tell the difference
Humans are social beings, so it’s likely that most of us often act with another person’s feelings in mind, rather than prioritizing our own. Acting in this way is not intrinsically good or bad—in fact, oftentimes this is a demonstration of compassion, which plays a key role in being a Read More...
What is validation and why do we need it in relationships?
Validation is crucial for building healthy relationships. This word encompasses the simple act of listening and understanding another person, which communicates that you “get” what they might be going through. In other words, validation is reflecting what another person might be feeling, and Read More...
Have a short-temper? Tips from an empathy expert on how to stay cool
You aren’t alone if you can relate to having a short fuse every once in a while, however, this can greatly affect your relationships, well-being, and stress levels. With time and reflection, you can start working on keeping cool so that you don’t end up deflated after every disagreement or Read More...
Research finds that empathy is key to ending online hate speech
Many social media platforms have launched more elaborate filters in an attempt to root out hate speech and inappropriate content, but unfortunately, many of these are imprecise and, as any social media user knows, harmful and hateful content still runs rampant on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Read More...
Empathy is a vital skill. Here’s how to teach it to your child
In life, there’s hardly a skill as important as the ability to empathize. Empathy is the ability to show true compassion, to understand another person’s experience, and to sympathize with their feelings. With empathy, we are better able to make decisions, not just for ourselves but also with Read More...
How to build a more meaningful relationship with your better half
Gifts and extravagant gestures are a common way of expressing your love towards your significant other, but showing them you really understand their plights and emotions is the greatest way to deepen your relationship. Though you may think that the capacity of empathy is difficult to attain, the Read More...
How to foster empathy in children
As the year’s end approaches, most Americans get bombarded by emailed and snail-mailed requests for donations to all manner of charities, A to Z. I’m an easy target, a softy readily seduced by impassioned pleas to help improve the well-being of people, animals, and the environment, and I often Read More...
How to tap into our collective empathy
Buddhist Roshi Joan Halifax works with people at the last stage of life (in hospice and on death row). She shares what she's learned about compassion in the face of death and dying, and a deep insight into the nature of Read More...
Why reading a good book is the best thing you can do for your brain
Besides giving us stories to cherish, recent research shows immersing yourself in a good book can do wonders for your mental health. By looking through the eyes of characters, you understand their pain and their joy, which can lead to greater empathy. That can also help to relieve loneliness and Read More...