I love Brene´Brown’s description of empathy in this animation. Empathy is very different than sympathy! In order to be truly empathic we need to get in touch with our own struggles and pain, which requires us to be vulnerable and courageous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brene´ Brown’s research and writings on shame and vulnerability have had a huge impact on me, both personally and professionally.  This video is one of her Ted Talks that I think is worth sharing.

Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past ten years studying vulnerability, courage, authenticity, and shame. She spent the first five years of her decade-long study focusing on shame and empathy, and is now using that work to explore a concept that she calls Wholeheartedness. She poses the questions:

How do we learn to embrace our vulnerabilities and imperfections so that we can engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness? How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to recognize that we are enough – that we are worthy of love, belonging, and joy?