Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It's about imagining how someone else feels and responding with kindness. Empathy helps us build strong relationships and communities!
Understanding what someone is thinking
"I can see why you'd think that"
Feeling what someone else feels
"I feel sad when you're sad"
Understanding + feeling + helping
"How can I help you?"
Your friend didn't get picked for the sports team. They look really upset.
Empathetic response: "That must feel really disappointing. I know how much you wanted to make the team."
A classmate is sitting alone at lunch looking sad.
Empathetic response: Go sit with them and ask "Would you like some company? Is everything okay?"
Your friend just lost their pet. What would you say?
My empathetic response:
Think of a time someone showed you empathy. How did it make you feel?