Why develop Empathy and Compassion in your life? There is growing body of scientific evidence that suggest there are significant physical benefits to practice Empathy and Compassion. Studies show that people who practice to produce 100 percent more of a hormone that counteracts the aging process, and appreciably less of the “stress hormone”.
The primary benefit is that it helps you to be more satisfied in life. If you agree that you would like to be happier, then the practice of Empathy and Compassion is one of the main tools for achieving that happiness. How do you do that?
Here are some helpful ways to develop Empathy and Compassion:
Let people in your life
- First of all, don’t be afraid of being close to other people and letting them in your life. It might be a little awkward at first, but it is only going to help you become a more evolved person.
Put yourself in their shoes
- One of the best ways to develop compassion is to put your self in the other person’s shoes. What would it feel like to be them? To have had their experiences, to live their lifestyle, etc.
Understanding yourself
- Sometimes, all it takes to understand other people is an understanding of your self. Once you know what it feels like to care or be cared for, and to hurt or be hurt, developing Empathy and Compassion comes easy. Seeing and recognizing our own feelings helps us interpret the same feelings in other people.
Breathe with the other person
- When you are with a person, breathe with them; at the same rate, imagine you can feel what they feel. Imagine your awareness sinks into their body. Notice what you see in your mind’s eye, feel as if you are very much like the other person. (You are!)
Movies and Novels
- Watching a lot of movies or reading good novels can also help you in developing Empathy and Compassion. The helpful piece of watching movies or reading novels is that they have a lot of internal monologues going on. This way, you have a firsthand look at how people (fictional or not) react to certain things. When watching the film or reading, allow yourself to feel what the characters int he film are going through. You might feel sad, laugh or get disturbed; but all that helps you develop your ability to relate with other people.