Step into Another’s shoes

Prompt: 

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view ... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” - Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Write a short story, discursive text or persuasive text which explores the idea of empathy. 

Have you ever tried stepping into another person’s shoes to face their sorrows and understand their journeys? Empathy is the process of trying to experience another's emotions, body language and asking questions. Sometimes just showing some level of curiosity is a good start. If you have ever practised empathy, you would have found that it allows you to gain a more realistic perception and encourages empathy in return. Without feelings of empathy, fights, rivalries and chaos surely ensue. The skill to be empathetic and to see things from other points of view, needs to be continuously trained for a more fulfilling life in the workplace, in the home and in the community. 

Firstly, the process of considering other points of view can help us survive and thrive in the workplace. In almost every profession, there is a need to place ourselves inside another person’s shoes. For example, as a waitress, recognising upset customers and offering an immediate apology for food delay can prevent volatile customer complaints. As a sales person, asking questions to understand the customer’s needs can ensure that you find the best product for them. As a health professional, one needs to consider the background and lifestyles of the person to decide on the suitability of a particular procedure. Hence, thinking outside the box about another person can be beneficial to career productivity. 

The process of empathising with someone can enable us to form meaningful relationships and friendships. Most conflicts in personal relationships will become volatile if the people involved continue to raise their voices over one another. However, instead of only battling for one’s own self interest, taking the time to question the reasons behind why the other person is behaving in a particular way may prevent the situation from becoming worse. In some ideal scenarios, by understanding the reasons behind someone’s anger, a compromise can be reached to benefit both parties. Hence, empathy plays an important role in de-escalating conflicts and resolution of negative emotions. 

Lastly, considering things from another person’s perspective can allow a person to become more knowledgeable and learn faster. By understanding different experiences, individuals are better equipped to make decisions and they can develop clearer preferences. For instance, by talking to another student and understanding the stress and negative emotions from studying a similar subject, the person now has an idea of what to watch out for in terms of study. Moreover, by talking to seniors who are working in an industry they are interested in, students can take in different points of view on how to prepare themselves for the working hours and responsibilities. 

The calm environment we have today is thanks to the empathetic people around us. When faced with mistreatment at home or at school, there are usually authorities and leadership bodies to help. Communities work by helping and exchanging services with each other. Without the ability to understand their needs, we are unable to cater to each other’s needs.