Showing Empathy In Person

When a friend or a relative is going through a hardship

, it can be difficult to know the right way to show empathy. For example, if your best friend has lost a family member, you struggle with wanting to make them feel better, but not knowing how to approach the subject. There are a few simple ways you can be there for friends and loved ones during their time of need.

Showing empathy means showing that you understand the emotions that the other person is experiencing. You may not literally be feeling the exact same feelings at the time, you probably will not be, but your effort to relate and understand will be a great comfort to others. When you have a loved one who is facing a personal trauma, responding with empathy is a great way to let them see that you care.

A big part of empathy is understanding, and to really understand, you must listen to what others have to say. When your friend is talking about their thoughts and feelings in response to a personal tragedy, you can do provide a valuable service to them simply by being there to listen. Listening thoughtfully to what they are feeling will not only help you respond to their feelings more affectively, but it also shows respect. It would be very disrespectful to busy yourself with distractions while your friend is trying to share his or her deepest thoughts.

People who are experiencing loss, or any other form of suffering, like to talk and vent in order to receive validation. Your friend who has experienced a death in the family is probably feeling lost. Show empathy by letting him or her know that the emotions they are experiencing are completely normal. In order to best understand what your friend is experiencing, imagine yourself in the same situation. Use the emotions this causes to relate and respond.

Showing empathy is really not as difficult as many people make it out to be. In the end, it is about being emotionally available for your loved ones during their times of need. Remember that this time is about them, and you are there to listen, validate, and above all else, support. Most importantly, you want to be sure that the person you are comforting knows that he or she can rely on you for continued support as they deal with this difficult time in their life.

by: Renee Wood, MSW

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