Empathy

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Empathy refers to our ability to sense and feel the thoughts, emotions, and perspectives of others. 

One of four self-management competencies, it’s broken into three types:

• Cognitive empathy: We understand how someone sees and thinks about the world. We can see their perspective and communicate with consideration of their point of view. 
• Emotional empathy: We understand how someone is feeling, either because we can directly relate to their experience or because we can “feel” what it could be like to be in that experience. With this understanding, we deepen our emotional connection. 
• Empathic concern: When we not only understand and feel someone else, but our compassion motivates us to do something on their behalf. Succinctly put: empathy in action.

These three types of empathy are supported by different parts of the brain which explains why some of us struggle to show empathy in one way, but not another. 

Demonstrating any of the three types leads to stronger, healthier relationships. Not only with others, but with ourselves.