Published 2025-10-08 09-41
Summary
You learn empathy basics fast, but using it with family and coworkers? That’s where people freeze up. The real issue isn’t understanding – it’s unlearning the habits that block you.
The story
I’ve been teaching empathy for twenty years now, and I’ve watched people struggle with the same thing over and over.
They learn the basics of Practical Empathy pretty quickly. But then they hit this wall where they can’t seem to use it when they need it most – with their partner, their kids, their boss.
It’s like knowing how to drive but freezing up in heavy traffic.
Here’s what I’ve noticed: most people think empathy is just about being nice or understanding. But real empathy? It’s about getting clear on what someone actually needs, not what you think they need.
The tricky part is learning to pause long enough to actually listen instead of planning what you’re going to say next.
I see this pattern all the time in my practice groups. Someone will say “I tried to be empathetic with my spouse, but it made things worse.” When we dig deeper, they were trying to fix or solve instead of just being present.
This is exactly why I wrote Chapter 2 of “A Practical EmPath Rewire Your Mind.” It walks you through the specific challenges that trip people up and gives you tools to work through them.
The hardest part isn’t learning empathy – it’s unlearning the habits that get in the way.
For more from Chapter 2 of my “A Practical EmPath Rewire Your Mind” book, visit
https://clearsay.net/chapter-2-challenges-with-practical-empathy-practice.
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Keywords: EmpathyChallenge, empathy habits, workplace empathy, family communication
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