Experiencing Greater Empathy Through Mindfulness

08.12.2016

When we are unable to give to ourselves then we are unlikely to be capable of giving to others. Compassion and empathy are of great importance to the quality of relationships we have with others.

 

Practicing mindfulness allows us to take better care of ourselves. By becoming more focussed in the present moment, we can pay attention to ourselves and others more readily. Here’s how mindfulness can allow us to experience more empathy in daily life.

 

What is empathy

The saying goes, ‘before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes’. It’s no surprise that if we’re finding it challenging to walk in our own shoes, we’ll find appreciating what it’s like for other people that little bit harder.

 

Empathy is the understanding and sharing of someone else’s feelings. It’s not to be confused with compassion, which is a feeling of concern for others that we feel we need to act on. Empathy goes that step further; by putting yourself in the place of someone else, you are appreciating how they feel, even if they’re experiencing something you’ve never encountered.

 

Through compassion we can develop empathy, and mindfulness is the key to unlocking both.

Why do I need to be mindful to experience more empathy?

Most of us feel compassion and empathy - but in the daily grind of our busy lives, it’s easy to go into self-preservation mode and become engulfed by our own problems.

 

Research suggests that empathy has been declining in some sectors of the population for many years. The boom in the use of personal technology and other media are cited as contributing factors to people becoming more self-interested. We are constantly bombarded with images and information and don’t have time to reflect on our own thoughts and feelings.

 

Mindfulness meditation increases metacognition: the awareness and understanding of our own thoughts and feelings. This can help us to empathise with others. By learning to bring our thoughts and feelings into the present and allowing them to be as they are, we become more mindful of ourselves. That enhanced mindfulness of ourselves makes it easier to read-across to the experiences of others. Just a small amount of mindfulness training can make it easier to read people’s inner states. Mindful people tend to experience more compassion and more empathy, because they have more control over their thinking.

 

Meditation has been shown to deactivate the ‘me’ centre of the brain. This is the area that flits from thought to thought. Dulling this area allows increased acceptance of others and allows us to act more rationally when dealing with other people.

How do I become more mindful?

Mindfulness meditation is an ancient technique that can be learned and practiced by anyone. It can be learnt at home through books and audio recordings, though there are many benefits to learning from a well-qualified teacher. An experienced provider can tailor a programme of mindfulness training to individual needs, so a highly personal daily routine can be embarked on for the best possible outcome.

 

To find out more about our mindfulness programs contact michael@mindfulnessworks.com or call (+44) 01223 750430.