Thecla Pereira

I like to begin this write up with this quote “This is a wonderful planet, and it is being completely destroyed by people who have too much money and power and no empathy” -- Alice Walker. 

It is so true in our world with headlines about rapes, child abuse, murders terrorist attacks and all kinds of human violence. It is easy to wonder what is wrong with people these days. That’s a fair question we are becoming collectively less considerate, and there is a decline in empathy the ability to relate to perspective and feelings of others. The pace of modern life is partly to blame for waning levels of consideration

A crowd of small children were waiting at a bus stop, after a circus show each child was holding a balloon string of a red balloon and a string slipped through the fingers of a four-year-old and his face curled up in grief at the loss, instantly the child beside him extended his fist and released his own balloon within seconds a score of balloons were soaring skywards and the four-year-old tears still gleaming on his cheeks laughed with the others at the spectacle.

It very easy to lend money but it is really difficult to lend ones sensitivity. Life has become more stressful and any kind of stress may minimise our empathetic capacity. To remedy this making social life a priority will help. If your weekends are too full. Gordan at  Roost of Empathy Office, suggests doing something like shopping with a friend watching a sunset at the beach or watching a beautiful movie and have a good laugh..Ha! Ha!

 If we demonstrate empathy we are far more likely to receive it in return. It is not a matter of blaming all selfish people in the world it is a matter of recognising that we cannot go forward without tackling the problem of unbridled ego and this ego does come in the way of showing empathy an attitude of “why should I bother”. Real good human beings put themselves in the shoes of the others, they understand others these are the people who are a source of grace to mention one is Sujit De of Kolkota his write ups on rag pickers, Caste reservation has been a call to feel with the situations of these people. Sensitive people are direct in their response to empathy, they see the needs of  others  clearly and do not let themselves get in the way as they reach out to people in need. They help us to hold on to life no matter what. These people keep the world going. We can choose to be empathetic to people along the way by deciding to be the way in relationship to ourselves. We may not become one hundred percent different, but in the affairs of human growth a little progress represents a great deal of progress. We have to make good things happen both for ourselves and others.. It is well said flowers don’t bloom where no seeds have been planted. If you want kindness, be kind. If you want acceptance, be accepting. If you want encouragement, be encouraging. If you want forgiveness, be forgiving. If you want respect, be respectful.

To develop being empathetic is a journey from where you have come from in your difficult times you would have looked around for someone to feel with you and luck has been on your side when someone came along your way and revealed to you that there is light at the end of the tunnel generating hope in you and in the world that is piled high with evidence of selfishness. Let us make room for others and pave the way for a space where no one needs to suffer alone, cries alone