When empathy is a superpower
Imagine a situation: your friend is upset, but cannot explain what is happening to him. You feel his pain, even if he has not said anything. Thanks to this, you can offer support, hug, say exactly those words that are so important to him now.
Empathy makes us more attentive to loved ones, helps build warm relationships and makes the world a little better. It also allows you to work more successfully in teams, to be a leader who understands the needs of his team.
When empathy turns into weakness
But empathy is not always easy. There are days when the whole world seems sad, and someone else's pain touches you so much that you forget about your own needs. Empaths sometimes find it difficult to draw a line between helping and self-sacrifice.
Sometimes empathy interferes with making difficult decisions. For example, it is difficult for a boss to fire an employee who is doing poorly if he feels that the employee is going through a difficult period in his life.
How to find a balance?
Listen to yourself. Before helping others, make sure that you are okay. If your resources are at zero, then the support will be of poor quality for both you and the other person.
Learn to separate your feelings from others. This is difficult, but important. Try to realize when you are experiencing someone else's pain, and when your own.
Don't be afraid to say "no". Empathy does not oblige you to solve all the problems of others. Sometimes the best help is to stop in time and give the person the opportunity to cope on their own.
Empathy is not good or evil, it is a tool. How you will use it depends only on you. It can become a support in life, helping to find a common language with others, or it can tire you if you do not know how to protect your boundaries. The main thing is to remember that taking care of yourself and being empathic do not contradict each other, but only complement each other.
What do you think about empathy? Is it easy for you to be sensitive to others? Maria.