To be empathetic and kind in your daily life, practice mindfulness

My former colleague, who sat next to me in my previous workplace, was always zen. I never understood how the same challenges that we faced did not affect her in the slightest. She would listen to our boss calmly, watch him leave and then hear me vent with a smile on her face. It exasperated me to see her deal with our daily highs and lows with such grace. Many of us may know a few people in our surroundings like her. Always kinder and calmer, it’s almost like they have the ability to stay patient and see through challenges as nothing but stumbling blocks. These individuals seem to navigate life with a sense of peace. And just like my colleague, chances are that these are the people who regularly meditate or practice mindfulness.

Their capacity to be there for others, listen without judgment and react with compassion stands out. In contrast to them, many of us are in a constant state of being overwhelmed while going through daily challenges. Pressure that we feel from work, personal life or simply from the pace of our life leaves us feeling drained and so occupied that we tend to not focus on the emotions and needs of others.

As is commonly seen, we lose sight of kindness and empathy when we’re caught up in our own worries. We also tend to become impatient in the midst of our struggles, unintentionally hurting or disconnecting from the people around us. However, there is a way to shift this mindset and become more compassionate. By practicing mindfulness or staying in the present moment without judging our thoughts, actions and surroundings, we can understand ourselves and others better—and this, in turn, helps us respond to the world with kindness and empathy. Mindfulness helps us slow down, be more aware of our emotions and become better listeners. It’s a simple tool that can make us more considerate in our daily lives.

So, join us as we explore how mindfulness can teach us to be more empathetic and kinder in life.

Become more aware of your emotions

Imagine you’ve had a tough day at work. Maybe you made a mistake or something you worked really hard for went unnoticed. Or perhaps your idea was rejected. You feel upset, frustrated and angry. When you finally get home, your mother greets you with a big smile. But instead of smiling back, you feel irritated and snap at her. You don’t mean to, but the frustration from your day has built up and you react without thinking.

This is where mindfulness can help. One of the main benefits of mindfulness is that it helps you develop a better understanding of your own emotions. When you practice mindfulness, you learn to observe your feelings without judgment. You begin to notice when you’re feeling stressed, anxious, angry or happy and knowing it allows you to respond more thoughtfully. This awareness is essential for developing empathy.

Listen actively

The time we live in is tumultuous. Technology has disrupted the way we live and function. More than half our waking time, we are simply glued to our phones. We scroll through social media, watch reels or get lost in endless content. Obviously, this entrapment or distraction has severely affected how we connect with the people around us. For instance, we may be having a conversation with someone, but chances are, they’re barely listening.

This is where mindfulness can make a difference in our lives. A major part of being empathetic and kind is being able to listen without any distraction. Mindfulness helps us to focus on the present moment—when we practice mindfulness, we learn to be fully engaged with the person in front of us. By being present, we also show care, making others feel valued and heard. Mindful listening helps create connections and more meaningful conversations.

Reduce stress, increase patience

Stress has a way of making us snappy. It’s something we’ve all experienced at one point or another. Maybe you’re preparing for an important exam, trying to meet a tight deadline at work or juggling multiple responsibilities. The pressure builds and suddenly even small things can make you lose your temper.

Stress is more common a challenge than many of us believe. We face it so often that it starts chafing on our empathy. When we are overwhelmed by stress, we tend to focus on our own problems, leaving us with little energy to understand the needs of others. Mindfulness helps to break this dreaded cycle. When we practice mindfulness, we create space between our stress and our reactions and doing so allows us to think more clearly and respond more kindly.

Build compassion for yourself

When was the last time you were kind to yourself? To be truly empathetic and kind to others, we need to start by being kind to ourselves. Practicing mindfulness encourages self-compassion, which means treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding that we would offer a friend.

When we are mindful, we are less likely to criticise ourselves harshly. Instead, we become more accepting of our flaws and imperfections. This self-compassion helps us to be more understanding of others’ imperfections too, leading to empathy and kindness in all our interactions. When we show ourselves love and understanding, we are more likely to extend that same care to others.

Let go of judgments

Almost daily, we find ourselves making judgments about others based on their actions, appearance or behaviour. These judgments actually do us harm because they prevent us from understanding someone else’s feelings or circumstances. Mindfulness helps us to let go of judgments and view people with a more open mind and heart. By observing our thoughts and reactions without judgment, we learn to see people for who they truly are. This shift in perspective allows us to approach others with empathy and compassion, without judgment.

In a world where stress and distractions are common, mindfulness offers a way to reconnect with ourselves and others in a more compassionate way. In fact, it is a simple practice that can help us lead a more compassionate life while enhancing our wellbeing.