A Priceless Gift

On a program that I recently viewed, a highly likeable character explained that she wore a watch designed for those who are blind because she appreciates the constant reminder of the value in thinking about what life is like in another person's shoes.

Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, and in my book, is one of the most important virtues we can adopt into our beings.

To empathize requires that we put down the lens with which we view and process the world, and attempt to truly feel what another person is going through.

True empathy generates healing that comes from feeling genuinely cared about.
It must come from the heart.  If empathy is used as a personality technique to win favour with someone, its power is greatly diminished and trust may be eroded.

Put another way, only someone who actually cares about another person can give the priceless gift of empathy.  This is why I strongly believe that being someone who offers heartfelt empathy is one of the best intentions we can carry, and if we are ever blessed to have a friend who cares to offer us empathy, we would do well in recognizing and cherishing such a person.