Develop Your Empathy Skills - A Crucial Step To Improve Any Relationship!

"I understand how you are feeling." Normally, this is probably the most over-used and mistreated statement to show our sympathy for some individuals.

However, you ought to steer clear of saying this so casually because our emotions are extremely personal things; let's face it - you do not exactly understand how an individual feels at that time particularly if you haven't experienced that situation.

The meaning of sympathy based on dictionary.com is: "the identification with as well as knowledge of another's scenario, emotions, and motives" as well as "The attribution of the personal emotions to an object".

Therefore, displaying our sympathy is certainly a lot more than stating "I understand how a person feel" to somebody. Below are great tips regarding how to enhance your empathy abilities to improve your relationships and stop clashes with others.

Tip #1

Instead of stating "I understand how you feel", you can try a few options such as, "I enjoy your being open with me," or even, "Thanks for informing me about your feelings."

Tip #2

If you wish to show understanding or validation, easy statements such as, "I see what you mean...you've got a great point." Or even, "Yes, I could see where you are originating from." Whenever you express your openness, the individual values it much more.

Tip #3

Enhancing our empathy abilities can also be about great listening. And may I only say reflective hearing, to be much more specific. It is an additional type of open conversation skill that involves hearing what somebody has stated, in addition to those things they did not state.

For instance, somebody shouts at you saying they detest you, however, you realized that their body language suggests otherwise, if so you might take the things they said with a touch of suspicion because you are aware how they really feel.

Tip #4

To prevent misconception, you should use key phrases such as, "Okay, So in other words..." Or even, "Let me find out if I'm getting this right - if I am listening to this right, what you are saying is..." Next, insert their own words as you can, so you steer clear of misinterpretation or getting your "own version" on what they stated.

Tip #5

Brushing on your empathy abilities does mean holding on to your ideas and feelings for some time. Put aside ample time and space for that other individuals emotions and wait if they got anything to say.

Sympathy can also be about waiting the proper time to bring forth your emotions and particularly if they are currently open to what you need to say, so you steer clear of offending others.