Are you wondering how there are so many who don’t seem to have empathy or who are even willing to acknowledge or try to understand others?  Maybe you have also lost some of your empathy at times in your life. This might help to explain why.

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What is Empathy?

There is a tendency to confuse empathy with sympathy. Let’s clear that up.

Sympathy usually starts with comparing others, judging those differences, and then feeling sorry for those who don’t have what others do. That kind of thinking actually causes distance between us and others.

In contrast, empathy is a connection between ourselves and others. It’s the ability to feel what others are feeling.  When others are genuinely excited about something, we feel excited too. When others are stressed, we feel stressed too.

So, when we lose our empathy…

We have become detached from our willingness to feel.

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Signs We Have Lost, at Least, Some Empathy

When we…

1  FEEL ENTITLED

Anytime we feel we have earned something ourselves, it was merit-based, or mastered it, we probably have lost some empathy. There is not one thing that has ever been allowed or accomplished without others’ help in some way.

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2  ARE BLIND-SIDED

When we can feel what others are feeling, it’s extremely hard to be completely unaware when someone isn’t being entirely honest, when our life suddenly changes, or even when global events occur.

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3  SEE OURSELVES ABOVE OTHERS

There are probably times in our lives when we have experienced feeling like we are exceptional or stand out from most. Examples might be winning a competition, achieving something most haven’t done, or being wealthy or attractive. Those are the times we are more separated from others and lose some empathy.

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4   ARE TOO FOCUSED ON OUR SELF-IMPORTANCE

Centering our lives on our individual desires, goals, achievements, and even our problems can diminish our ability to feel an empathic connection with others.

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Summary

At some time or another, we have all lost some of our empathy. Anytime we feel entitled to something, are completely blindsided by someone or some event, feel we are above others in some way, or become too self-centered, we have put distance between ourselves and others.

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I have two QUIZZES that may help you…

Is the Changing World Stressing You Out?

How Often Do You Listen to Your Intuition?

Also, check out the Inner Work and Intuition sections on my website.

And, if you need an advisor to help you on your quest, contact Vickie Champion for a coaching and consulting session at a discounted price.