I hope you had a wonderful celebration as we greeted the New Year!

It’s been said that empathy is more than just thoughtful words. Empathy is a skill to be developed; it’s the ability to be genuinely present and accessing our experiences, as someone relates their story. In this way, we make connections. It’s about perspective – understanding the other person’s uniqueness and then using our own to see another’s point of view.

True empathy requires that you step outside your own emotions to view things entirely from the perspective of the other person. -Anonymous

We’re learning that empathy is one of the foundations of resilience. Many successful leaders have acquired the ability to reduce negative responses, such as antagonism and aggression for more altruistic responses like kindness and friendliness. These are the individuals who value relationships built on trust and compassion, creating meaning from practicing empathy.

Empathy is experiencing others feelings and thoughts while remaining objective. It also requires that you are able to communicate to someone your understanding of his or her thoughts or feelings to help them better understand themselves. -Unknown

In the coming weeks, we’ll be looking at some of the various aspects of empathy. Among the most surprising is that it’s not, necessarily, a natural asset, it’s a skill that can be learned and perfected.

Have a great week practicing empathy. It’s likely to reveal something about those with whom you interact, as well as allowing you to discover something new about yourself.