If you are an anxiety and panic sufferer, then you’ve probably taken a fast learning track of how many people around you actually suffer from this one skill “empathy”.
How many times have you told yourself or maybe even to others “you don’t understand” or “they don’t understand what I’m going through”. It feels frustrating and you’re tired of hearing people say “you’re over reacting”.
You may feel that you even want to jump out and grab these people and say “Hey how about you live a day inside my shoes so you can feel what I feel” … Then maybe just maybe you might grasp how this feels…
Unfortunately this isn’t going to happen. And putting on your cranky pants every time someone doesn’t understand your situation is only doing more damage to yourself.
However, I do have some good news for you.
Now you have such a great understanding of how it feels when someone doesn’t “understand you” or even try to, you have the opportunity to develop this skill. An invaluable skill, and let me tell you why it is invaluable…
If you have empathy you spend less time despising people for their actions. You have the ability to forgive. You’re more able to console. You won’t spend so much time in your own “bitter” little world and you will feel greatly at peace within yourself. You will build stronger friendships and relationships. You will have lower stress levels!
So next time you find yourself cranky at the world or at your family and friends for not understanding your situation, turn the situation around. Look at how you can adopt this invaluable skill in your life.
A lot of it comes down to thinking before you speak. When someone comes to you with a situation, take a moment and think to your self “how would I feel if I was in their shoes”. Gather the facts, don’t just assume. Assumptions can lead you into an unnecessary argument that never had to take place.
This is just scratching the surface of what you can learn and take from your experience of anxiety and panic to better your life.
And remember, there are people out there that “do” understand what you are going through. I’m just one of many of them!
© Joanne King - http://www.anxiety-panic-free.com
About the Author - Joanne King is a former sufferer of Anxiety & Panic Attacks. She is the author of "How to Overcome Anxiety & Panic Attacks." She has helped other sufferers Worldwide to eliminate their Anxiety & Panic attacks. http://www.anxiety-panic-free.com
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