“The presence that empathy requires is not easy to maintain. “**The capacity to give one’s attention to a sufferer is a very rare and difficult thing; it is almost a miracle; it is a miracle**,” asserts [[French]] philosopher [[Simone Weil]]. “Nearly all those who think they have the capacity do not possess it.” “**Instead of offering empathy, we tend instead to give advice or reassurance and to explain our own position or feeling**. Empathy, on the other hand, requires us to focus full attention on the other person’s message. **We give to others the time and space they need to express themselves fully and to feel understood**. There is a [[Buddhist]] saying that aptly describes this ability: “**Don’t just do something, stand there**.”” --- **Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[action-bias]], [[empathy]], [[mindfulness]], [[listening]], [[not-speaking]], **Source** -- [[251115105628 - B - Nonviolent Communication]]