Walking in another’s Shoes
Shoes say so much about a person! From the sublime to the ridiculous, the practical to the fashion statement, shoes tell a story about the individuals who fill them.
They’re like an extension of who we are, our personality, our occupations and our hobbies and even our attitude to life.
New shoes are great, but there’s nothing quite like the feel of an old pair of shoes or boots or slippers that have moulded to the shape and condition of your feet. They are like an old faithful friend, been with you on many a journey, stuck with you through thick and thin. They have stories to tell. And we forge a strange attachment to them. They gather in the bottom of the wardrobe or somewhere in the garage, not good enough to wear anymore but never bad enough to abandon.
It is no wonder that we refer to ‘walking in another shoes’ as an analogy of understanding that person’s life, and seeing life from their perspective, allowing ourselves to feel what they feel.
That’s not easy to do and sometimes we need to draw on our own experiences in life to accomplish this, to empathize.
Stepping into someone else’s shoes can be downright uncomfortable but it can also be one of the most powerful of human experiences. Sympathy is similar but stops short of making a real difference. That’s why we have Sympathy cards not Empathy cards. Nothing wrong with sympathy, it can be a genuine expression of compassion. But it tends to look from the outside in.
Empathy looks from the inside out. We can learn to be empathetic. Ask ourselves the questions, how would I feel, what would I do, what would I like to happen if it was me in that situation?
As we look through their eyes we are less likely to be judgmental and more likely to offer comfort and find solutions. We are less likely to react and argue and more likely to listen and learn.
The results of empathy are solution focused and are centered on the best outcomes.
We all have this ability, your experiences in life qualify you to empathize with others, to walk in their shoes a little. Have a look at your shoes. If you are alive today you are a survivor and a champion! What are the stories of your life, what are lessons you have learned, how can you help others because of what you have experienced?