## HOW YOU CAN THRIVE You can sense other people’s feelings by imagining yourself in others’ lives or situations. ## WHY YOUR EMPATHY IS UNIQUE These personalized Strengths Insights are specific to your results Chances are good that you frequently detect impending conflict sooner than most people do. Your keen awareness allows you to sense what others are thinking and feeling. Before issues cause people to be angry, you direct everyone’s attention to areas where they already share the same ideas, philosophies, or viewpoints. Simply put: You have a gift for helping people find common ground. This makes it easier for them to politely and courteously resolve their differences. Driven by your talents, you sense when someone needs your assistance without the person having to tell you. By nature, you might tune in to the feelings of people. Maybe you cheer them up when they are sad, disappointed, lonely, frustrated, or afraid. Instinctively, you can sometimes instill a sense of self-worth in individuals. Perhaps you are one of the people in their lives who values them, sees what they can become, and believes in them. It’s very likely that you usually are emotionally attuned to what is going on in your own and others’ lives. You intentionally concentrate on what is good. You automatically search for the best in people, experiences, assignments, or situations. You strive to fill individuals with joy. Frequently you find ways to unburden them of their anxieties, frustrations, sadness, disappointments, fears, or anger. ## WHY YOU SUCCEED USING EMPATHY You have great emotional depth. Your awareness of the expression, value and implications of others’ emotions makes them feel like you understand them. ## EMPATHY STRENGTH – TAKE ACTION TO MAXIMIZE YOUR POTENTIAL ### Mantra > *“Appreciate and refine your gift for understanding others’ thoughts and feelings.”* ^cab3d9 - **Create a list of great questions that help others describe their emotions and experiences.** Experiment using these questions with friends. Refine your list by keeping the questions that best help others express their thoughts and feelings. - **Practice refining the words you use to name your own feelings as well as those you observe in others.** Try this: Journal your emotions for one week. Stop throughout the day to capture what you are feeling. Try to use different words to describe your experience each time. - **Be sure to decompress at the end of each day.** Develop a routine that allows you to unwind and relax. If you don’t, at times, the depth of your emotions might overwhelm or drain you. - **Refine your nonverbal communication.** Sometimes it is better to be silent. You have the talent to show other people that you know how they feel without saying a word. - **Act quickly and firmly if people are behaving in a way that is unhealthy for them or those around them.** Understanding individuals’ emotional states does not mean that you must excuse their behavior. ## WATCH OUT FOR BLIND SPOTS - **Pay attention to your energy levels.** Constantly experiencing others’ emotions can be draining, so try to occasionally disconnect from all the emotions so you don’t get burned out. - **Because you are so sensitive to others’ emotions, some people might think you are prying or overinvolved in their lives.** Be careful not to overstep when others prefer to keep their feelings to themselves.