Empathy, as a choice, aims at right actions. With empathy, you seek to understand what another person feels and compassionately take effective actions in support. Understanding feelings does not mean taking advantage of a person, relative to his or her sensitive areas though. Emotional intelligence, on a dark side, can make you a manipulator. And, hurting someone is not following God’s commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. Saying, “it was just a joke,” or “it wasn’t my intention to embarrass you” rarely makes things better.
Right actions should be the result of empathy as a choice. Compassionate care can be the outcome. Wouldn’t it be nice to see more compassion in our world today? Politically, we see lies, slander, and revenge over differing ideals. WE even follow these manipulative ways at a micro or individual level. No one is without sin, right? My comment does not negate the significance of individual or group ideals. Rather, the intent is to see the need for individuals and groups to choose empathy and care with each other.
How can we as individuals and society grow in compassionate emotional intelligence? Seek to understand others’ viewpoints, care, and take right actions. I didn’t say we have to agree, right? Choose empathy and compassion, and act rightly. Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:22, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
How can we have a pure heart: 1. From the Word of God — “When we spend time with God in prayer and in the Word, his nature permeates us, causing us to change without our even realizing it.” 2. The work of the Spirit in us, and 3. The fellowships of believers in that “The flight from evil and the pursuit of holiness occur with the aid of other Christians.” Change can take place in community (Fernando, 2019). Community is a big word to define…next time.
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