Virtue of the Week – Empathy
Virtue of the Week focuses on building peaceful and caring communities through understanding and fostering the practice of virtues. The Source supports the Virtues Project and will publish one virtue developed by the project each week.
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in another’s place and understand their experience. We are deeply present to their thoughts and feelings with such compassionate accuracy that they hear their own thoughts more clearly. Empathy connects us with our common humanity. It protects us from divisive actions such as prejudice, blame and judgment. We reflect on how our actions affect others. It moves us to seek justice for every person, even those with whom we disagree. Empathy inspires us to be giving and selfless. It connects our hearts.
Quote: “Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.” -Mohsin Hamid
The Practice of Empathy
I listen with compassion and detachment.
I refrain from judging and blaming.
I think about how my choices impact others.
I seek to understand others’ experience.
I care about people’s rights.
I feel my connection to all living things.
Questions for Discussion
- Is there any disconnection in our community? Where does it lie?
- What do we need to practice empathy in our community?
- What experiences do we invite in our community? Are there any experiences we don’t invite here?
- In our social justice work, how can practicing empathy move us to seek justice?
Sign up to receive the Virtue of the Week by email!
Visit https://cfvi.net/Virtues-Project and scroll to the end of the page to fill out the form.
Virtue of the Week is provided by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) in partnership with the VI Source and Virtues Matter.
About the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands
Since 1990, CFVI has been a catalyst for positive change in the territory through initiatives committed to youth, learning, family support and the environment. With a professional staff and a volunteer Board of Directors composed of community leaders, CFVI is a trusted advocate and supporter of programs that ensure opportunity and sustainability for current and future generations. CFVI is a registered non-profit organization entirely supported by individual donors, grants, trusts, corporate donations and estate planning. For more information, visit cfvi.net.
About Virtues Matter Virtues Matter was started by a passionate wife-husband team of social entrepreneurs seeking to positively uplift as many lives as possible. We aim to inspire and empower, to build capacity, strengthen relationships, and help everyone lead lives of passion and purpose.
Virtues Matter believes in a world where people are committed to kindness and respect, strive to be their best, and live with hope, courage and in unity. We built the Virtues Cards mobile app, an interactive personal and team development tool, to help people identify and develop key virtue skills. We also offer dynamic workshops, online training, and customized programs to help people cultivate these positive qualities of character. To learn more, visit virtuesmatter.com.
To learn more about the Virtues Project, visit www.virtuesproject.com.
