Walk in Other's Shoes While Keeping Yours on the Ground

Volume 1: Telling it Like it Is - Walk in Other's Shoes While Keeping Yours on the Ground

Welcome to the first week of Emotional Adventures in the office, where we are committed to addressing the real struggles that people face at work. Our approach will vary - sometimes we will ask questions, other times we will make bold statements. We're always looking for new topics to delve into, so if you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Walk in other's shoes while keeping yours on the ground

Walking in other people's shoes might be a bridge to better understanding people's perspectives and feelings. While this is important, it is also vital to recognize that it is not about becoming a martyr and giving up who you are in the process.

When walking in someone else's shoes figuratively, we cannot forget that we are literally wearing our own shoes. We never actually forget who we are.

Empathy allows us to see the world through another persons eyes or perspective. If we do it well, we might even see their heart.

This is a journey of understanding, not just of other people but of ourselves.

We must recognize that we have values, beliefs and history that make us who we are right now - in this very moment. Those real things color how we interact with people (whether we mean to or not).

Often, intent and action do not match. When we try embracing other people's paths we have to be careful not to minimize their stories, perspectives or experiences. When they tell us their truth, we must believe it. We must also recognize that we are still viewing it from our own perspective most of the time. Let's get self aware here people I

By keeping our shoes on, we better recognize our own bias and can suspend our own interests, become more curious and listen better.

The balance of empathy is not about preserving our identity it is about seeing the uniqueness and beauty through the perspective of others. This is a journey we must navigate with care to value people and the individuality that make each of us irreplaceably who we are. It is a journey worth taking one careful step at a time.

Yes you can!