#TLHBLB: Day 7 – Practice Empathy and Connect With Someone

Some people are naturally very empathetic. I am one of those people. This is a great gift that allows me to connect with people every day when they share with me why they have come to see the doctor. I have grown aware through years of practicing medicine that people long for these connections. People long to be heard, share a moment and have someone appreciate their circumstances.

A patient last week told me, “I always feel better after coming here”. I made no medical adjustments during that visit. She shared with me how her best friend died and we simply felt sad for a few minutes together. Nothing that required a medical degree but healing occurred.

I understand why more people don’t practice empathy.

It’s hard! Not hard to do but hard to handle. Sharing someone’s situation can mean feeling their pain. I know I am asking you to do something hard. But this matters more than anything else we can do in this life. Let’s share each other’s pain.

We will change the world when non-minorities share the pain of discrimination, when straight people can know in their hearts that all love is love or when the well-nourished feel other’s hunger.

Practice empathy.

Walk in another’s shoes until it hurts. Look for opportunities today to ask yourself, “I wonder what that person is going through.” When a person is short with you think about what must be going on for them to make them so upset today. When a person looks down, frustrated, upset see if you can connect with them.

Simply select one person today and ask yourself what it must be like to be them.