Do you ever feel like your life would be better if you were just able to connect to people more?
If so, you’re not alone, as being able to relate to others in a verbal or non-verbal way is key to success in life, love, and even business.
What you’re really looking for are empathic abilities, which is how human beings put themselves in the shoes of others, usually so they can better understand them or their point of view.
People have been working on improving their empathy for hundreds of years, and while it may sometimes seem like a cruel world out there, the opposite is actually the case.
If you want to access a world of kindness and compassion, or if you just want to be a better friend or partner, then empathy is going to be a real game changer.
So make sure to stay tuned for this one; by the end you should be able to interact with anyone in the world and know exactly how to talk to them and what makes them tick.
Number 10: Step into the life of someone else for an afternoon.
This may seem a little strange at first, but there is a lot of evidence to suggest that physically experiencing the life of another person can help you develop empath traits.
But what does this really mean?
Well, for the most part, you are just going to live life as if you were that other person for a short period of time, maybe no longer than an afternoon or evening.
You’re going to want to try to eat like they would, walk like you feel they do, and talk to strangers like that person too.
This is a playful way to get out of your own head, and to let whatever is clouding your judgment more or less disappear.
If there were empath superpowers out there, being able to understand a person just by walking in their shoes for a day would definitely be considered one,
and it’s a valuable tool that only empaths really possess.
Number 9: Let go of your own baggage.
If you feel like your empathic abilities aren’t working as they should, you may be experiencing a blockage as a result of your own doubt and insecurities.
The truth is that we all have our own baggage, and there isn’t really anything we can do to get rid of it.
If you are holding onto baggage and letting it cloud your judgment, then it’s time to take a good long look in the mirror and try to figure out a way to let that go.
The moment that you let your own life influence your feelings around others, you lose control of your empathy, and that can lead to some feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability.
Like the saying always goes, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,
and you have no place trying to peer into the lives of others before you first clean up what’s going on in your own space.
Number 8: Start getting into books again.
While it may not be possible to become an empath, there are certainly traits and abilities that you can train in order to get better at reading the emotions and thoughts of others.
One of the most popular ways to do this is by just heading to your local library or bookstore in search of a good piece of fiction.
When we read fiction, we are put in a position where we imagine the life, happenings, and sometimes even thoughts of another person, and this is really good for our brains.
It helps us to understand that the way we think may be entirely different from another person’s,
and it may also help us slow down when making decisions on the quality of a person.
Keeping your mind open is an important step in strengthening your connections to others, and may also help you to make meaningful friendships too.
If fiction isn’t really your go-to for literature, though, you can always try biographies or something like that, although it may be harder to escape reality that way.
Number 7: Raise, or work with, more children.
If you want to further develop your empath powers, the best way is to work with people who may not have them just yet.
Bringing children into your life is a great way to accomplish this, as they require mentorship and explanation for almost everything.
Raising children of your own is one way to do this, but if you don’t want to commit to having kids,
there are also jobs and volunteer opportunities that may achieve the same effect.
Teaching children about the world will not just help them, but will also force you to re-evaluate your beliefs and either defend or reject them.
When you’re talking to a child, you are also forced to speak to them in a kinder way than you are maybe used to, forcing you to be a kinder, more empathetic version of yourself as well.
Number 6: Go to local debates or civil rights protests.
Civil rights protests and local debates may not seem like the places where you will develop feelings of empathy, but they are exactly that.
In both circumstances, the people speaking are actively trying to convince others of their stance, and urging them to care.
In other words, these people are appealing to your empathy, and your ability to care for the well-being of not just yourself, but also those around you.
The more you listen to these people talk, even if you don’t agree with their stance, the more you will feel the passion and intent that they speak with.
Being able to speak your mind is an extremely hard thing to do, and doing so in a public place is even harder.
Seeing people go up on stage and talking about the things they care about should help you better understand what it takes to truly connect with strangers, and how much effort it can take.
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Number 5: Be open to criticism.
Not every lesson is going to be an easy one, and learning how to receive criticism is definitely not a fun time.
Sometimes it is very necessary, though, and you have to be able to receive hard information without lashing out or shrinking up.
If you show an ability to take tough news well, you are going to be more likely to hear from your friends and family when something comes up.
If you lash out when they try to tell you something, you are just going to alienate yourself from the people who love you, and will make it very hard for them to open up to you.
It may not be fun, but learning how to take some tough info with grace can help improve your relationships and open you up to opportunities you may never have known existed otherwise.
Number 4: Try to find common ground with others.
Sometimes two people can be so different that it takes every last bit of your empath powers just to remain respectful to one another.
When you’re dealing with a person you just can’t seem to get along with, it’s important to try to find ways that you two are similar instead of focusing just on your differences.
Try to find a common ground between you two that you both feel comfortable about, stay within that safe zone, and you both should become more comfortable.
Developing your empathic abilities is easy when it's with a loved one or someone you get along well with,
but in life you are also going to have to deal with people that you don’t particularly like, and it's then when you really have to show respect.
Number 3: Be willing to question yourself.
Most of the time, when a person is asking how to strengthen empathic abilities, it means that person feels like they are ready to move forward in their growth journey.
What can be difficult in that case is that sometimes you must be ready to move backward too.
Being able to question your strongest beliefs without feeling defensive or angry is very important in growing your empathy, since you must be comfortable with the feeling of uncertainty.
Other people are not going to respond well to you trying to change them, especially if you haven’t shown an ability to change yourself, after all.
Number 2: Join a shared cause.
Probably one of the easiest ways to develop your empathy is to work with others, particularly for a worthy cause.
The good news here is that for the most part there is no shortage of volunteer work out there, and you are bound to find like-minded people like yourself there.
Working these events will help you do good, but just make sure you aren’t biting off more than you can chew.
Empaths are good-natured people in general, but they can also become drained after just a little bit of social contact.
If you feel like you are starting to get to that point, don’t feel bad about giving yourself some space for a bit.
Number 1: Talk to strangers about their daily lives.
To be a proper empath, you must also try your hardest to remove any biases or stigmas you may have toward others.
An easy way to do this is by communicating more with strangers, and specifically asking them to share details about their lives.
Learning that the owner of the bakery is having to stay up later to take care of his son should help you be more forgiving when something goes wrong there,
and finding out that your doctor is going through a messy divorce may help you understand why he’s being short with you lately.
Understanding those around you will help you discover just how little things have to do with you, and will help you better accept them for their quirks too.
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