bare bones empathy

 I wonder if all empathy comes down to this:

oh love. you want things to be different than they are, don't you?

This doesn't make it any less important to open my whole being to what is happening for that person who is feeling this and to love them entirely, without judgment or the slightest hint of pushing them to change. I want the chance to grow these deep capacities within myself.

It sure does tell me, however, that yes, my essential practice is loving everything just as it is. 

Comments

[Martha]

This post inspired an interesting conversation with my husband. We strive too for more empathy with one another, an ongoing learning experience. The way you boil it down makes a lot of sense for me.