Let's think about what attention can be and why it is so valuable to a person in a difficult situation. Let's define what empathy is and how it manifests in relationships.

First, let’s understand what empathy is.

Empathy is a window, a door through which a person sees their own experiences. They hear and understand what another person feels and find something similar from their own reservoir of feelings. A person lives in harmony with another close person, feeling the same as the other. Sometimes, during the analysis and transmission of feelings, they can be strong. Such feelings can amplify the feelings of the other, making them resonate. Thus, empathy is what awakens in response to another's feelings.

In empathy, there is a feeling that a person is not alone because they see another person who shares something with them and listens to them. During this time, the attitude towards life's difficulties changes, and they become less daunting, shrinking to minimal sizes. This is the strength of empathy as a humane and important feeling for every person. It is also important that the person showing empathy does not occupy the space with themselves.

What does attention represent?

Attention is the presence of a person next to another, listening to them, observing their reactions, and being attentive to their needs.

Attention is when a person is ready to meet halfway, not waiting for a request or responding to it. Attention is a place for the feelings of another person, with which they find it difficult to cope alone. Attention is contact, communication in relationships without violating boundaries, at a comfortable distance.

Many of us face difficulties, so we need someone standing nearby, listening attentively, ready to share their own feelings and ideas. Each of us needs a sense of belonging to something or someone.

Consider an example. A psychologist learns to remain attentive during consultations and trainings. They track all the feelings of a person and do not refuse empathy during the conversation. A client trusts and comes for attention to such a psychologist when they need support, when they want to take a step to overcome difficulties.

But in life, close people, sometimes just acquaintances, also learn to empathize and sympathize, finding feelings similar to ours within themselves and transmitting them to us. Then relationships are built on mutual trust and attachment. We seek closeness and come for empathy when we need support and help. Receiving them, we strengthen relationships.

Of course, in life, there is almost no pure form of either empathy or attention. Each of these phenomena has a part of the other, as they are interconnected. ❤️