You can listen to just about anyone and understand their mindset and actions.
That doesn’t mean they are right or that you would’ve done the same thing in their situation, but you can still have empathy for them.
Having empathy for others is just as beneficial for you as it is for the other person. You can know how to treat someone or effectively communicate with them if you understand them.
A lot of the times when we talk to others, we are looking for empathy, not sympathy. Empathy is when you truly understand and feel what someone else is going through, while sympathy is when you care about someone’s feelings and show kindness, even if you haven’t experienced the same thing.
To truly understand someone, you have to understand their full story and really listen. To do that, you have to be more objective and less judgmental. No matter who the person is, I know I can empathize with their situation and learn from it, as well as possibly help that person. It forces me not to be so quick to judge or impose my own emotions on the situation.
Like the golden rule says, I do that in the hopes that others will give me the same treatment when I’m the one telling my story and seeking understanding and empathy.
FLY, BLACK BOY 