I read recently that having empathy for others makes you a happy person, and I can totally believe it.
I have been putting my �empathy� mantra into practice over the past little while and it has helped me make better decisions. I then feel good about myself, I am a nicer person and everyone is happy.
Whenever I am in a situation � serving a customer, out in public, driving, whatever, when I think about the other person I think of them with empathy. Sometimes it is hard and I don�t always get there, but most of the time I see things from their point of view and am happy to give way graciously, sometimes figuratively and sometimes literally.
At the very least I think I come across in a more caring way and that in turn often triggers them to be more thoughtful. No matter what, I always feel better afterwards. The few times I�ve thought it was �my right� to do something, even if it was, I�ve had a bad feeling afterwards (and I didn�t like it!).
Even people I dislike, I can feel for them and therefore feel happier for myself if I think of them with empathy. I don�t feel good when I think (or say) bad thoughts about someone, but I would think to myself �well they�re x� as if that made my thoughts valid.
Having empathy takes away the bad thoughts and replaces them with better ones, and so I feel positive and happier rather than negative and picky.
Sometimes I might seem to be �giving in� to someone or being �too nice� for my own good, it actually is for my own good. And it�s not just situations, it�s any time I interact with another human being, I think of them with empathy and all is well.
If you knew me in person you would know I am not the pushover type. I fight for my rights and sometimes I probably go too far for my own peace of mind. So cultivating empathy is beneficial for me.
It�s about finding balance in how we live our life and conduct our day to day moments. When you find something that enhances these it�s like a blessing from above.