Empathy As A Way To Improve Your Relationships

This meditation is a unique opportunity for you to improve your relationships by cultivating a deep sense of empathy for someone in your life. This is a powerful practice for anyone brave enough to really connect with the body, mind and heart of another so that they can strengthen their relationship. The reward......greater perspective, connection and ease.

Transcript

A warm welcome to you.

For many of us,

We have relationships that are filled with fondness but also can be complicated.

We may feel judged,

Misunderstood,

Or not treated with the love and respect we desire.

Or we ourselves may judge or blame others.

When we get caught in these cycles of judgment,

Blame,

Blame,

Resentment or hurt,

Our perspective narrows and it can feel difficult.

We can find ourselves feeling distant or closed off to those people we are fond of.

The practice of empathy can be incredibly powerful as it allows us to walk in the shoes of another.

Understanding,

Even if just for a moment,

What life would feel like inside somebody else's body,

Mind and heart.

When we do this,

We are able to understand relationships in new ways.

Our perspective broadens.

The judgment,

Blame,

Hurt and feelings of separateness softens and we are free to connect with a more open and wise heart.

True empathy requires focus,

Curiosity and an open heart.

It requires us to be genuinely open to letting go of our stories and to welcome the insights that come from connecting with the experience of another.

Are you ready to give it a try with me now?

Great.

So let's begin our practice now by settling into a comfortable position and just making any final adjustments you need.

Closing down your eyes if you like and drawing your awareness to your breath,

This gentle life force that exists within each of us.

This gentle life force that exists within each of us.

So so noticing the air as it enters your nose.

So noticing the air as it leaves your nose or mouth.

So is it warm or cool?

Does it make a sound?

Does it make a sound?

Noticing the gentle rise and fall of your chest as you breathe.

Noticing the soft expanse of your belly as the air flows in and out.

So so surrendering into this gentle movement for a moment or two.

So noticing any sense of coming home,

Of arriving.

So drawing your awareness now to your exhale and if you are able just lengthening it a little.

So allowing each out breath to be long and smooth.

So if thoughts come that's okay it's all part of meditation returning your awareness to your exhale.

So perhaps you can hear the air as it leaves your body.

So noticing that each time you exhale your body naturally lets go.

Letting go across your eyes inviting a softening there.

Letting go of tension across your jaw.

Letting go now across your shoulders allowing them to drop a little.

Letting go of tension in your chest.

Allowing a softening in your belly.

Resting here in this sense of letting go.

This sense of progressive relaxation.

Resting here in this sense of letting go.

This sense of progressive relaxation.

So and now from this place we are free to explore the practice of empathy.

And so with a warm heart I invite you to bring someone into your awareness who you think fondly of perhaps a friend or family member.

You feel a genuine warmth towards this person but also a desire to understand them a little more.

To feel more empathy to have a greater understanding of their world and experience within it.

There is no right or wrong here trust that whoever emerges will be just right.

Now spending a few moments picturing this person in your mind.

Noticing the clothes they are wearing.

Their posture.

Facial expression.

Noticing what they are doing.

And just taking one nice deep breath into this sense of noticing.

This gentle sense of connection that is growing within you.

Now inviting you to focus on the physicality of this person.

Are they tall or small?

Strong or slight?

Heavy or light?

What is their posture like?

When they walk are they heavy footed or light?

When they sit do they look relaxed?

Or a little more stiff or tense?

What type of facial expressions do they often have?

Does their face reveal a sense of openness?

Of friendliness?

Or is it more reserved?

No need to judge simply remaining open and curious.

Taking a nice deep breath now and beginning to imagine what it would feel like to live in the physicality of this person.

Imagining yourself now with this body.

Moving in this way.

Walking as this person does.

Sitting as this person does.

Imagining also the posture and the facial expressions.

How does it feel to inhabit this body?

How does life look and feel from within this physical form?

Taking a nice deep breath now and drawing your awareness to the mind of this person.

What type of thoughts might this person have?

What are the tone and feel of these thoughts?

Are these thoughts focused on the past or the future?

Are these thoughts light and optimistic?

Or do they have a more cautionary,

Worrying feel?

What type of thoughts take up the most space in this person's mind?

And from these reflections,

What type of perspective or outlook on life does this person have?

No need to analyse or judge,

Simply remaining open and curious here.

Taking a nice deep breath now and beginning to imagine what it would be like to live inside this person's mind,

Day in,

Day out,

With these type of thoughts.

Would it feel stressful or relaxing?

Heavy or light?

Hopeful or full of worry?

Resting here in this person's mind for a moment.

What does life look and feel like from within this person's mind?

And finally,

Turning our awareness to the emotional world of this person.

What type of emotions do you think this person would experience on a day to day basis?

Is there one or two emotions that may be experienced frequently?

Do you think emotions would move freely through this person or would they get stuck?

I wonder,

Can you picture this person's heart in your mind?

Is it big or small?

Does it feel strong or weak?

Open or closed?

What other words would you use to describe this person's heart?

And now taking one nice deep breath and imagining yourself inhabiting the emotional world of this person.

How does it feel to live with this emotional landscape?

How does life look and feel from this place?

And imagining now that beating inside your chest is their heart.

How does this feel?

Standing here in this experience of empathy and connection for a final moment now.

Returning now to the gentle rhythm of your breath.

And as you connect in this way,

Returning also to your own body,

Mind and heart.

Feeling the support of the ground below.

How was this experience of cultivating empathy?

What surprised you?

From this place of knowing and this experience of empathy,

How could you better communicate with this person?

How could you communicate in a way that allowed for greater connection?

In a way that lessened the judgement,

The blame,

The disappointment and hurt.

And finally,

What does this person need from you?

And can you give this from a free and wise heart?

Perhaps you may like to set yourself an intention relating to how you would like to interact or communicate with this person.

Feeling this intention and sending it out into the world with one deep intentional breath.

When you are ready,

Offering your body any gentle movements it desires.

And bringing your awareness back into the space you are in.

Well done.

This practice of empathy can be illuminating and sometimes quite powerful.

It can also leave you feeling a little vulnerable.

So as always be gentle and kind with yourself.

May this practice encourage a shift within you that allows you to connect in new ways with those around you.

Reviews

This is a very insightful and helpful meditation when one is feeling stuck in conflicts with loved ones.
To be in "their shoes" and fully appreciate what that feels like for them without judgement.

It was very helpful,
Thank you so much for creating and sharing with the world 🌎.

Beautiful.

Excellent practice to understand the differences of others, thank uou ~

Thank you! This is a great way to start practicing forgiveness. It was very helpful ❤️✨

Lovely and string meditation.

Thank you so much Fleur :)
I felt a really deep connection with the person I was thinking of, and yes, this one wasn’t easy at all, and it takes time, but it was amazing so thank you
Sending so much gratitude and compassion

Holy Cow, that was deep! My group loved it. Thanks.

Wow! Just wow!
Thank you, you may have just helped save my marriage!

Powerful and beautifully guided.

I’ve never done anything like this. I did it for my sweet, loving husband of 34 years and I was amazed by what I learned! Thank you Fleur ❤️🙏❤️

Really powerful and just what I needed before a difficult conversation.

In trying to get into the mind and reality of someone with dementia is impossible but understanding what confusion and changing world they inhabit makes me want to care more for them and bring to the present our lives together- thank you for bringing clarity to the situation

I cannot thank you enough for this gift. Namaste 🙏❤

WoW... Powerful indeed! So glad and grateful I listened to myself and decided to listen to your guidance, Fleur. 🙏🏼☮️

What a great way to approach the ones we love with an open mind, an open heart and genuine curiosity. Thank you Fleur!

Thank you. One of the best educational yet relaxing meditations, I’ve ever experienced. A path to truly put yourself in the other person's shoes.

Fleur hi
Thanks for a really great understanding, the person I chose was perfect in helping me gain empathy towards others
Namaste
🙏

This meditation is definitely a keeper

This was amazing! I became aware that there is so much more I could learn about another person, even the ones I know best. Thank you!