How Does Empathy Help With Anger?
Unhealthy anger by itself separates you from others, and empathy connects you. That’s it in a nutshell. Besides that, did you know that you can have empathy for someone even when they’re angry at you? As a matter of fact, that’s the best possible thing you can do when either of you are angry. As soon as you express empathy for someone, I guarantee you that their anger will begin to subside, and likewise for you when you’re the one who’s angry.
When you’re angry, the main thing you want is to be heard and understood, and that’s what empathy provides. So empathy is like a “bridge over troubled waters,” giving you a way of connecting with people you care about, even when anger is present. Oh, and by the way…anger without empathy is the basis for all abuse. If you get angry at someone and have no empathy for their feelings or viewpoint, you can justify anything you want to do to them. Not a good thing. Empathy is not a luxury, it’s a necessity!
