The World Needs More Empathy

If you look at the majority of the problems with the world, not including natural disasters and things beyond human control, almost all of them are caused by humans being cruel to other humans.

Whether that’s human trafficking, war, slavery, child labor, or even climate change, humans seeking power over other humans are at the root of all these issues.

Maybe it’s because power corrupts. Because people in charge start believing that they are somehow above their fellow man.

What if we could make those in charge more empathetic and humble? What if instead of seeing their workers as machines to produce products and make money, that they were an individual, just like them?

Humans wouldn’t be selling one another as slaves. We would wage much fewer wars, if ever, and talk things out instead. Children wouldn’t have to work when they’re eight. No, they’d be playing outside, growing, learning, being a kid. Hell, people would stop fighting over oil so much and focus more on discovering sustainable energy.

But for those of us who are just normal, average people, we can’t make policies that will change the world. Not by ourselves, anyway. However, we can start to make the world a better place by working on ourselves.

No one ever likes to admit that they’re a bad person, and I like to think you probably aren’t bad. But we all have flaws, and none of us are perfect. I believe if we all had more empathy, as nice as you may be, the world can change significantly.

So I did a little digging, and I’ve come up with ways we can all be more empathetic, and ultimately just become better people.

And truly listen to what they’re saying, instead of thinking of your response. Unfortunately, that’s what most of us are used to doing, and really listening to a person can be a challenge.

Talking to new people is an incredible way to gain insight into how other people’s lives are. You hear stories that you never would’ve known, or the life they lived that you’ve never imagined before. After all, being more empathetic is towards other humans. Getting to know more of them is the best way to do so.

Similarly, community service is also a great way to be more empathetic. I’ve done community service for all four years of high school, and I can say without a doubt that I would not be the person I am today without it.

Not only is community service a perfect way of meeting new people, it’s also stepping right into a new life and environment you probably never would have before. Plus, you’re directly helping people, whether that’s volunteering at a local shelter, or setting up a charity event, the positive vibe that comes out of community service is second to none.

Privileges come in all shapes and sizes. You may be privileged because of your skin color. You may be privileged because of your sex. You may be privileged because you don’t stutter, or because you can walk, or because you’re more attractive than average.

Recognizing that you are privileged is a great way to be more empathetic toward others, especially those who are not.

One of my best friends is an avid Dungeons and Dragons player. And for a long while, I never really understood the point of the game or why it’s even fun, and I liked to tease him about it.

Several weeks ago, I auditioned and was cast for a play called She Kills Monsters, a story about this girl playing DND.

It’s funny how quickly my perspective on DND changed. Granted, I don’t know how a real game of DND works still, as the game in the play was scripted, but it still made me a more understanding person. Just because I don’t find a certain activity appealing doesn’t mean I won’t in the future, or that the people who enjoy it are boring.

We’re all different and unique, and being able to recognize that is an incredible thing.

Learning to be a better and more empathetic person is hard. Being able to admit that sometimes, we all do mean things, is even harder. But being kind to others is infectious, as is being rude. We all have the power to decide how we want to affect the world around us with every interaction. Whether it’s in a good way or a bad way, that’s up to you.

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