4 “easy” steps to embracing empathy

Empathy and sympathy are two different things entirely, says author and researcher Brené Brown. The former fuels connection and the latter drives disconnection according to Brown.

“Empathy is feeling with people,” she says.

In the short, charming and spot-on video below, Brown cites nursing scholar Theresa Wiseman‘s four things we must do to empathize:

1. See another’s perspective
2. Avoid judgement
3. Recognize emotion
4. Communicate all of the above

I’m sharing this because empathy is a cornerstone of relationship-centered dementia care. We need to get into the space and reality of our person who lives with dementia, and to empathize with him or her in order to provide the kind of care she or he needs and deserves. Easier said than done, I know!

Have a look and listen:

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Take my short survey on behaviour here.

Image copyright: elen1 / 123RF Stock Photo