While sitting at Hartsfield Jackson Airport in Atlanta (the big airport!) - I was participated in an empathy circle dialog facilitated by, Edwin Rutsch, with a few other empathy activists, practicers, and supporters. For about 2 hours we talked and listened to each other’s perspectives on creating an empathy movement, what brought us to our practice, and how we might assist, support, and cheer each other on. It was one of those conversations that could have continued on for quite sometime because we all understood and agreed upon a common teachable skill, empathy.

Thank you Doug, Ashok, and Edwin for holding a safe space and sharing your stories with me. I am sorry we were not able to converse with Rob Volpe. Next time!

Three big take aways for me:

1. Gather More - Bringing empathy practitioners together MUST be a thing that Empathy Lab does - this conversation alone prompted so much thought and brought me loads of lasting Energy!

2. Listen to Perspectives - There is a BIG different between taking a perspective and listening to a perspective. I could have tried to understand empathy from the standpoint of a lawyer or a psychiatrist, but I would have been way off. If possible, utilize another person’s perspective before trying to jump into their shoes.

3. It is a Journey Together - There are MANY other people out there yearning to talk, share, collaborate, and hold safe space to do so. It’s too easy to shy away from uncomfortable conversations because of a single glaring difference; this behavior cultivates apathy and bias. Be open and curious, kind and compassionate. Just because we “nerded” out listening to one another doesn’t mean that we have to agree with everything the other was saying.

Copied from Edwin Rutsch’s LinkedIn Post:

About: We are holding a series of Empathy Circles with empathy activists on the Topic: How Might We Build the Empathy Movement? By Activists we mean people committed to working on practicing, researching, teaching and promoting the value of empathy.

Benefit for Activists
1.* start talking about this topic of building a movement.
2.* connect with each other
3.* generate ideas to work on
4.* build more of an empathic community and movement.
5.* viewers learn the Empathy Circle practice by watching it.

If you are an Empathy Activist, contact EdwinRutsch@gmail.com to take part in one of these dialogues. Join us in building the movement.

* Project Website: https://lnkd.in/g_XtkfcW
* How to Empathy Circle? http://bit.ly/EC-How
* This Circle Transcripts and More:
https://lnkd.in/d9uhWyTf

PARTICIPANTS
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Edwin Rutsch
About: Director Center for Building a Culture of Empathy
Website: https://lnkd.in/gBEvWR3h
Website: http://EmpathyCircle.com
LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dH5bS5fN

Ashok Bhattacharya
About: Founder and President at The Empathy Clinic Empathy Architect at EmpathifyU
LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/d72b2_G2
Website: The Empathy Clinic - https://lnkd.in/dDw9FBM7

Shelton Davis, MID
About: Listener + Founder Empathy Lab, Inc. | Empathy Decathlon Coach
LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dpby2Xpk
Website: Empathy Lab - https://www.empathylab.io

Douglas Noll
About: Teaching You How to Listen People Into Existence
LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/dg_QunTS
Website: https://dougnoll.com

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I found our conversation and connection deeply profound and catalyzing. It felt like something just started within me, within us, speaking towards the greater empathy movement. Thank you for your time, nerdy intelligence, stories, and energy.

I will certainly be in touch in order to learn more about how I can help you all AND how I can bring your perspectives into my ecosystem.
Thank you, Edwin, for bringing us together.
With energy,
Shelton
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