Friday, September 22, 2017

CHOOSE: TO EMPATHIZE

In his latest book, If I Understood You, Would I Have This look on My Face?, Alan Alda calls misunderstanding the grit in the gears of daily life that "jams" our relationships. (p.4)
That's why one needs to empty oneself of that self-promoting/arcane language that causes misconceptions and often hinders our relationships with others.
We can suffer the snags of misunderstanding---in important relationships b/c we are getting so bogged down in confusing language that usurps the important aspects of communication--relating well to other people.

What are the essentials of relating well to others? According to Alda, empathy is key---a fundamental ingredient in for real communication. An important component of communicating well with others.

The intro alone with his funny dental experience when he didn't understand the tethering of his maxillary labial frenum is a worthy read in and of itself! As an author, actor and screenwriter, Alda once again shows his unassuming intelligence along with his uncanny ability to make sense of the minutiae of an esoteric language whether that of a scientist, computer engineer, researcher or medical professional. His goal is to teach those in medicine, insurance or technology to talk to the rest of us by stressing empathy.

Empathy. In acting, it's called relating. (p.5) Listening to them. Hearing them. Observing them.

In Scripture it's putting ourselves in another's place. Not being self-promoting, but considering others more significant that yourself. (Philippians 2:3) A way of looking more to another's interest than our own. (1Corinthians 10:24)

Maybe in communicating/relating with others, we all need to do the same. Empathize.

As scripture puts it, an understanding that gives one the sensitive ability to "bear one another's burdens." (Galatians 6:2)

Simply put, choose empathy.