As I was writing out the text for this virtue, I was thinking about how I would practice this virtue and I decided to work on how my actions affect others. With the COVID-19 pandemic a reality, I am experiencing things slightly differently than normal.
First of all, we are three living in the house, with two generations, that don’t always have the same opinions about various topics. With little contact with others, except by telephone, we are having to adapt to each other in ways that are not necessarily easy. A little empathy for others will help keep ourselves at peace with each other, at least, most of the time.
Second of all, I have to respect the rules of the pandemic, which is to hold my distance from others (1 to 2 meters) and to not visit people who might be at risk. I have already cut down the amount of time I spend shopping as that is where I could meet people who are not respecting the social-distancing rules or are carrying the virus without being sick themselves.
I can’t change the way other people lead their lives, but I can change the way I react to others. I can think before I act or say something. I can plan my activities so that I respect other people’s needs as well as my own. By using empathy I can try to see how others see a situation and allow for different viewpoints.
“Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in another’s place and to understand their experience. We are deeply present to their thoughts and feelings with such compassionate accuracy that they can hear their own thoughts more clearly. Empathy connects us with our common humanity. It protects us from prejudice, blame and judgment – those things that divide us from each other. With empathy, we reflect on how our actions affect others. It moves us to seek justice for every person, even those with whom we disagree. Empathy inspires us to ge giving and selfless. Empathy connects our hearts.”
When I practice Empathy, I:
- seek to understand others’ experience
- listen with compassion
- refrain from judging and blaming
- think about how my choices impact others
- care about people’s rights
- feel my connection to all people.