We Need Empathy Now More than Ever

The world is in turmoil. A tragic life-altering pandemic, senseless law enforcement killings, the protest of structural racism and resulting civil unrest have filled many of us with uncertainty, fear, sadness, anger, and even disgust. These feelings are normal and appropriate, but if you are consumed by them, you will be ill-equipped to adapt, survive and thrive.

Some of our patients are reporting that they have been losing sleep; are feeling anxious, depressed and helpless; are succumbing to addiction, or are developing hypertension or experiencing pain but we can help you cope and navigate your way through the storm and the unknown, and the key is empathy.

Empathy is defined simply as the ability to understand other people’s feelings as if we were our own, but there’s more to empathy than this simple definition. Another path to understanding and practicing empathy is through the practical philosophy of Tao, which is the root of Chinese medicine.

Here is my understanding of, and the way I manifest empathy. First, all animate and inanimate things are the offspring of the same universal source; the Mystical Universe. Therefore, all humans and living creatures are capable of experiencing similar senses, feelings and emotions. In practice, be mindful that everyone you come in contact with is the offspring of the same source—we are all One.

The Tao describes empathy as resonance. All things in the universe are composed of qi, or life force energy, even though they may be expressed differently though the influence of yin and yang, the five elements, heaven and earth, form and shape, and so on. Just like a fish is bathed in water, we are all bathed an energy field or sea of qi.

To experience the energy of universal qi, try this simple qi gong exercise: Stand comfortably, close your eyes and visualize the experience of being in the ocean. Allow the waves of qi to move you and to sway your body from side to side, front to back, up and down, and in all directions.

Qi energy is both emotive and informational. Just as electricity or light can carry voice, video and data across wire or radio frequency, empathy is encoded in the qi that flows from us and is “verified” by the community’s response which can magnify the message and manifest our empathy into reality.

To practice empathy, open your heart when someone in the world experiences pain, loss or oppression, and you too will experience their pain, loss and oppression. Acknowledge that others are suffering and send them your positive light of love, compassion, hope and healing.

When all of humanity practices empathy as taught by ancient Taoists, it may be possible to turn the tide of needless suffering and senseless death and usher in a new era that is healthier, happier and more prosperous. We are in this together; we are all in the same boat.