Just kidding.
Empathy may not seem important, nor relevant, to every individual’s life. For example, to those planning on working in careers not involving fact to face contact with human beings may find themselves wondering if empathy is necessary at all.
However, empathy is certainly relevant and useful to everyone. While some may need more socializing than others, in the end we all need some frequency of social interaction.
You most likely prefer to spend time with empathic individuals. Just imagine a friend who never understands where you are coming from, invalidates your point of view / feelings relentlessly, and repeatedly challenges your values and beliefs. I bet you are getting excited to meet such an individual!
Or would you rather interact with a friend who always validates your feelings, supports your value and belief system no matter how similar/different theirs is from yours, and is able to adapt to your mood regardless of where you are coming from?
The difference between the two scenarios is empathy. Empathy makes a person a more valuable friend and as a subsequent possibility more able to win friends and influence people.
Most of us possess empathic abilities; developed almost innately after the egocentric period, skills to be built upon throughout life. But do we use that potential? And why would anyone who has the ability not want to use it?
Empathy not only includes understanding other’s emotions but literally feeling them for yourself. Given this assumption the adage “walk in a man’s shoes for a day” becomes much more literal than one may previously thought.
Honestly, is it comfortable trying on a stranger’s shoes? What about a friend’s, or an acquaintance? What do we have to lose?
There is a great deal of risk, especially among those whose profession requires the use of empathy on daily basis, from 9 to 5. Most likely many employees’ achievements may improve with increased use of empathy, regardless of profession. But in the helping professions, empathy is usually included in the job description.
While understanding the emotions of others may increase our success and happiness, as always there is a downfall to excess. Empathy can damage an individual surrounded by negative emotion. This factor explains high burnout rates among mental health professionals.