Word of the Week: Empathy

Some weeks, the word picks itself.

Empathy.

It’s the thing we crave when we’re hurting. The thing that softens division. The thing that makes the world feel a little less impossible.

Empathy is the ability to sit with someone else’s experience—without judgment, without needing to fix it, and without making it about you.

It’s seeing a post online that makes your blood boil and still remembering: that person has a story too. It’s looking at someone you love and choosing curiosity over defensiveness.

And it’s the quiet, necessary act of turning that same compassion inward.

Why Empathy Feels So Hard Right Now

Let’s be real—there’s a lot of noise out there. And it’s not just background noise—it’s loud, overwhelming, and emotionally draining.

People are on edge. Conversations escalate quickly.

We’re all carrying more than we can name.

And when we’re maxed out emotionally, empathy is usually the first thing to go.

It’s easier to shut down. To snap. To assume the worst. To draw hard lines and retreat into echo chambers.

But here’s the thing: when we lose empathy, we lose connection. And when we lose connection, everything feels colder, more isolating, and way more hopeless.

That’s why practicing empathy now—especially now—matters so much.

Practicing Empathy for Others

Empathy doesn’t mean agreeing with everyone. It doesn’t mean letting people walk all over you. It doesn’t even mean liking them.

It means remembering that people are more than their opinions, mistakes, or loudest moments. It means slowing down enough to say: “I wonder what they’re carrying.”

Start small:

• Pause before you react. Not every opinion needs a rebuttal. Not every comment needs correction.

• Ask questions instead of making assumptions. Curiosity builds bridges where judgment builds walls.

• Practice presence. Truly listen. Not just with your ears, but with your attention. (And yes, that means putting the phone down.)

• Let go of needing to be right all the time. Connection isn’t about winning—it’s about understanding.

Empathy doesn’t erase conflict. But it does invite grace into it.

Practicing Empathy for Yourself

You know that voice in your head that says “Get it together,” “Why are you like this?” or “You should be doing more”?

That voice is exhausting. And it’s not the voice you need right now.

What you need is a voice that says:

• “This is hard, and it makes sense that you’re overwhelmed.”

• “You don’t have to have all the answers today.”

• “You’re allowed to rest.”

Self-empathy isn’t self-pity. It’s self-acknowledgment.

It’s recognizing that you, too, are a person who deserves compassion. Especially when things feel too heavy. Especially when you're not at your best.

• Maybe that looks like giving yourself a night off from being productive.

• Maybe it’s saying no to a conversation that will drain you.

• Maybe it’s letting yourself cry in the car and not making it mean anything bad about you.

Whatever it is—practice speaking to yourself like someone you care about deeply.

A Gentle Reminder

Empathy doesn’t fix everything. It won’t make the world less complicated, or people less difficult. But it will make you softer. More grounded. More human.

This week, try to make space for empathy—in your conversations, your relationships, your reactions, and your self-talk.

The world isn’t going to slow down for us. But we can slow down for each other.

And maybe, that’s where change starts.

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About the Author:

MDW's voice for all things mental health, therapist and LCSW, Carrie Summers, embodies inclusion and creating safe spaces for all people that is free of judgment.

Carrie is dedicated to empowering individuals like you through personalized counseling. Specializing in perinatal, relationship issues, divorce, life transitions, and narcissistic abuse recovery.

Carrie owns her practice, Noreila Healing & Wellness, in Wheaton, Illinois, and is available in-person and online for therapy.

Learn more at noreilahealing.com