#379 – How does universal empathy improve your health?

When you're going through a tough time, someone's empathy can make a big difference in your experience.

But what is empathy, really?

It's the capacity to understand someone else's emotional experience, while:

• Remaining non-attached to it (not your circus, not your animals)
• Not being triggered by it (it has nothing to do with you, so relax!)
• Allowing it to be (you feel ok even if the other person does not)

When you show someone empathy, you stay fully present with them: you accept their emotions, to be touched by them. But you ground yourself in you.

Your grounding and non-attachment allow the other person to climb out of the hole they may feel in. Whereas, if you jump in with them (by feeling what they're feeling), you'll both stay stuck in there.

So, how will you improve your health when you show universal empathy (but not codependence)?

• Your general life satisfaction and happiness will increase––"Can empathy help individuals and society?"
• Your levels of inflammation will go down and autonomic nervous system will become more competent––"Kindness as a stress reduction–health promotion intervention. A review of the psychobiology of caring."
• Your brain will release oxytocin, promoting trust and cooperation, which in turn reduces stress––"How to fight stress with empathy"

Need more proof? Try it––it's free (and freeing)!

Who in your life could use more of your empathy, while you reap your health benefits?

Love,

Carolina