Cultivating Empathy Through Pain

Empathy, the ability to imagine and understand another person's perspective, is a beneficial trait to cultivate. It is natural to be focused on our perspectives, thoughts, and feelings and be closed off from the perspectives of others, particularly when they differ from our own. Experiencing physical pain can increase our awareness of our sorrow and other people's. We more intimately know what it is like to feel pain and distress, making it easier to recognize and understand the pain of others.