World We Imagine Part 1

    My whole life I was always taught that empathy is the greatest gift and simplest act of kindness in making the world a better place. Empathy, to me, is one's capability to perceive and share the feelings, emotions, and experiences of others. In other words, it's a person's ability and willingness to put themselves in the perspective of another, understand the situation, and find compassion for the experiences. It's not as simple as feeling sorry for another, it entails a deeper emotional bond and appreciation for the other's encounters and tied emotions to the situation. 

    Now how does this connect to making the world a better place? I believe empathy is the key to making the world a better place through its active action in making a positive impact. Empathy is an inherent trait that one may choose to employ or not. When used correctly, this trait promotes positive relationships, compassion, and social connection globally. Despite opposing cultures, when empathy is present, it can promote a culture of respect, collaboration, respect, and overall foster interactions among people when never thought possible. 

    A key component of applying empathy to better the world is to remain unique to the individual. Every person has different experiences and perspectives on this earth. The concept of empathy is individualized and different for each person for these reasons. Depending on the person's upbringing, cultural influences, personal beliefs, etc, their empathy trait can vary. By recognizing and respecting this individuality of empathy it can help further foster this environment of understanding and compassion. 

      If I were to choose a first step in creating a better world, I would choose empathy. Without sounding conceited, I truly believe this is my greatest strength. I find myself as an individual who genuinely cares about the well-being of others and takes the time connects with others beyond surface level. I tend to approach situations with a non-judgmental mindset and always look for opportunities to make a positive impact in any community I am a part of. In a perfect world, everyone would have these same approaches to life. But the truth is, some find to choose hate and negativity first. Empathy helps resolve conflicts peacefully and promotes a more harmonious world. Although it is a small act, I think by continuing my small impacts of showing empathy towards others and encouraging others to do the same, it truly makes the world a better place one interaction at a time. 

Comments

  1. Cristina 340April 21, 2023 at 5:22 PM

    Hi Ava! I really enjoyed reading your post. I too believe empathy to be one of the most valuable traits a person can have. One step towards making this world more empathic I think is adding classes that promote it for little kids. For schools to place more weight on classes where kids can play and learn together to be more empathic, specially for younger kids.

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  2. Young Park 340April 21, 2023 at 6:15 PM

    Hey Ava. I'm glad that my mother taught me to be empathetic because I get to see the other side of my world where people are struggling to get by their day. I think by being empathetic, you learn to become appreciative and grateful for what you have and as a result you are happier for the things you have. I think it's critical to teach young adolescents the importance of empathy and how it may dictate our own future because if you think about it...you only hang out with people that are similar to you and if you surround yourself with the right group of people who are empathetic and kind, then you become the product of that environment.

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  3. Bella CarpenterApril 21, 2023 at 11:19 PM

    Hi Ava, I loved reading your post! It is so true that empathy is essential to fostering a world that promotes peace, understanding, and respect. I love your approach to writing on this topic and feel you conveyed your point beautifully. I, too, wish more people were more empathetic because I believe if we all tried harder to understand and be patient with one another, we could have a better world. Great post!

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  4. Sophia AlmendralApril 25, 2023 at 11:41 AM

    Hi Ava! I can tell you really thought about this post. I like the structure, and honestly it already feels like a mini essay about how we can use empathy to change the world. I think for a lot of our ideas we need to start by changing the perspectives of the individual and looking at empathy as a starting point seems a really effective way to do so. I wonder how we can start making people more empathetic on a large scale? Like what is the most practical way to do this?

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