Empathy.

It is the ability to understand or perceive what a friend or another person is going through from his point of view. It is a way of putting ourselves in other people's shoes. It could also be defined as the desire to help and care for others in need. Different types of empathy has been identified. These include:
(a) Cognitive empathy;
(b) Emotional or affective empathy;
(c) Somatic empathy;
(d) Spiritual empathy. 
Synonymous words include:compassion, sympathy etc. The antonyms is self centeredness. Self centered individuals are unable to understand others thoughts, feelings and emotions. They may not care as they are psycopaths in nature.
Stages or features of empathy to really understand others are:
(1) Ability to accurately reconstruct the opinions or viewpoints and reasons of others;
(2) The viewpoints or reasons must be based on premises, assumptions or idea of the other party;
(3) One must admit that the other party may be right and you listening to him or her may be wrong (ask yourself the question 'what if what I know/believe is wrong').
It may be difficult to fairly judge people's belief(s) or idea if we have not put ourselves in their thought pattern. Putting ourselves in their thought pattern may be hard if not impossible because of the following
(a) we have developed much or very significantly than them (those we are empathizing with) therefore we cannot imagine why somebody like them could not meet our expectation(s), or vise versa (on the ugly side we may be the very one lagging behind);
(b) we don't grow up in the same environment as they do, so can't factor out what may be responsible or the premises upon which they build their belief(s) or vise versa;
(c) we may also be new to their system of thought or vise versa.
After we deeply understand the fellow then we can proceed with this next question. 
How should our empathy be expressed? 
(I) Verbal communication: saying accurately the recognition of the significance of another person's actions (which at such moments may be intentional), associated emotional states in a way or manner that the person in question can tolerate is vital to empathy.
(ii) Non - verbal communication: it is just by listening and often by looking straight at his or her eyes. Sometimes by seating besides or close to him or her or even embracing the fellow without ultering a single word.
The quality of our life is directly proportional to how well we can handle empathy. We gain promotion(s) and do well at work if we are empathetic to our boss. We have a fulfilling relationship when we can reason from our partners point of view. Children see their parents as friends and people they can trust hence are open to them when they are empathetic to the same. Ultimately, it helps in comforting others in distress.
Thank you for your time with me today. Do well again by joining me next time for a fresh episode. Till then, never forget to rule your world. 

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