The worst thing about having empathy is that you start to notice how many people don't have any of it.
For instance...
- You are great at listening to what other people have to say.
- You make other people feel comfortable talking about their problems.
- You avoid bringing certain topics into the discussion because you know that they are inappropriate in the current setting.
All of this, because you can easily imagine how other people feel.
Unfortunately, this telepathic antenna for sensing the inner emotions of others has a negative side. That is, you also notice how:
- Others are careless when it comes to hearing what you have to say.
- Others can't quite imagine how you feel - even if you tell them.
- Others will discuss topics that are inappropriate in front of you.
Plainly, you can pick up emotions only by the tone or body language. Yet, other people can't relate to your feelings, even if you're waving a big sign.
"How is this bad?", you might think.
In theory, it's handy to see things others can't see. However, at some point, it gets exhausting, annoying even, to constantly discuss the problems of others without having the opportunity to talk about your own.
It’s like carrying the weight of everyone's emotions while your own are left unseen. Empathy, while a gift, can be a burden when you're left feeling invisible in a world that simply doesn't care.
Worth reflecting on:
How can you express your feelings in a world that seems uninterested in your feelings?
I think that the above is the reason a lot of people turn to journaling - or other forms of self-expression.
You passionately discuss what other people are experiencing, but can't easily find someone to discuss what you go through. Thus, you rely on a network of journals to open up about your emotions.
A journal won't judge, won't interrupt, and won't agree with your statement only to invert the conversation towards itself. No, it will patiently wait to hear about your experiences.
Worth reading:
From my desk:
From around the web:
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Drowning in dopamine: "But it is not really coffee in my hand, and what I am getting is not anything that coffee is meant to offer... Actually, what I’m really really buying is a feeling."
Worth thinking about:
"No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care."
― Theodore Roosevelt
Thank you for your time!
Regards,
