Empathy

Last June, cases of Covid infections was rising in Goa. In Pedro’s colony whatsapp group, a resident disclosed that he was infected and that he had gone into isolation. While most responses were of care, concern and offers of help and support, Pedro’s was of ire and condemnation.

Someone tried to cool down Pedro by saying, ‘let’s show empathy?’ Instead of calming down, the rage rose, ‘what do you mean by empathy? How can we let such people get away with careless acts?’ Pedro went on and on…

A few months later, when infections were going down and situation seemed better, Pedro was infected. When he shared the news on the whatsaap group, neighbours expressed concern and offered help. Pedro was not only grateful, he now knew what empathy meant.

Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view and imagine ourselves in their place. Essentially, it is putting ourselves in someone else's position and feeling what they must be feeling.

When we see another person suffering, we must instantly envision ourselves in their situation and feel sympathy for what they are going through. While we are generally pretty well-attuned to our own feelings and emotions, getting into someone else's head can be a bit more difficult.

Empathy makes us ‘walk in another's shoes’ so to speak. It makes us understand the emotions that others are feeling. Seeing another person in pain and responding with indifference or outright hostility is not acceptable. But the fact that we do respond such demonstrates that empathy is not a universal response to suffering of others.

Choose empathy not vile slight

Imagine self in a similar plight!

- Pravin K Sabnis