Activities to increase empathy (part 3)

Empathy in Action. Commitment and Expression

In this final block of activities, we focus on taking empathy from the realm of internal understanding to that of external action and commitment, thus solidifying our ability to connect with others in meaningful ways.

Identify and Support a Specific Cause

Beyond spontaneous acts of kindness, committing to a specific cause over the long term greatly deepens our empathy.

Choose a cause that resonates with you—whether it’s social, environmental, or animal-related—and get involved in a way that goes beyond just donating money.

Dedicate your time and skills.

By working side by side with others toward a common goal, you not only contribute to something bigger than yourself.

You also develop a much deeper, more empathetic understanding of the issues and the people affected by them.

This direct and sustained connection transforms empathy from an abstract feeling to an experience lived.

Being faithful to your promises

Trust is the currency of relationships, and it's built on reliability.

One of the most powerful ways to show respect and empathy is to be a person of your word.

Before you make a promise, make sure you can and want to keep it.

And once you've made it, do your best to honor it.

Every time you keep a promise, no matter how small, you're communicating, "You're important to me, and my word has value."

Conversely, breaking promises, even over small things, erodes trust and communicates a lack of consideration for the other person's feelings and expectations.

Integrity in your commitments is a tangible demonstration of empathy.

Expressing your appreciation and gratitude directly

We often feel appreciation for others, but we don't express it.

Burned-in gratitude doesn't have the same impact than expressed gratitude.

The challenge here is to express your gratitude in a direct and specific way.

Instead of a simple "thank you," try saying something like, "I wanted to thank you specifically for [the concrete action].

I really appreciate you taking the time to do that, and it meant a lot to me because of [the impact it had on you]."

Doing it face-to-face, or at least over the phone, adds a level of personal connection that a text message can't match.

When you express gratitude in this way, you're not only making the other person feel incredibly valued.

But you yourself benefit by cultivating a state of mind of appreciation, strengthening the empathic bond between you.