The internet was invented for the sole reason of connecting people all over the world in the hopes of creating a sense of community. Although the internet has brought about many positive changes in our daily lives, it might just be taking away the one thing that unites us – empathy.
When you are always in front of a screen, you are very much disconnected from the real world. This in return, reduces your capacity to truly understand another person’s perspective. In fact, with time, you end up believing that you are always in the right.
That said, you still need the internet for many reasons, such as work or play. In other words, you still need a reliable and high-speed internet connection, for which we recommend that you consider Xfinity as the main service provider for your home.
In fact, infinity now also has infinity Home Security solutions. Now, you will always have peace of mind that your loved ones are always safe. However, that does not mean that you should overlook the fact that you might be becoming less empathetic.
It is important to acknowledge and understand that everyone has different opinions, and you should learn to be empathetic and soft when you have a difference in opinion. Therefore, in this article, we will share how you can nurture empathy so that the internet does not affect your happiness.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
The internet, especially social media, has led to many people competing with all the various people they follow online. You need to understand that not everything you see online is in fact all truth.
There are many things that people share for a ‘follow’ or ‘like’. In other words, these things may create a sense of comparison or envy in you, which will not only affect your capacity to show empathy to the other person but your happiness as well.
Therefore, you need to first create a self-identity that speaks to your true self. This is the key that will stop you from comparing yourself to the other person. It will always pull you back to who you truly are, and hence, you will be happier in the long run.
Choose Face-to-Face Conversations over Online Ones
When you are too absorbed with the internet, you rarely make eye contact with the people around you. There are two reasons why this might make you less empathetic. Firstly, you won’t observe or see what people are signaling towards.
Secondly, you will no longer be able to understand how people feel from their expressions whenever you meet them. When conversations are always being made online, you will reduce the ability to understand the other person’s emotions through their tone.
That is why it is important that you stay empathetic by always choosing face-to-face conversations over online interactions. That said, you should also make it a point to be more verbally empathic when speaking to anyone over the internet.
Stay Calm and Composed During Online Conflicts
Before you decide to lash out or say something hurtful to someone online, learn to take a deep breath and remind yourself to remain calm and respectful. One of the main reasons why you lash out or beret the other person online, is usually because you feel defensive and threatened.
These feelings only reduce your ability to feel empathy. When you get angry at every little conflict or difference in opinion, you are always going to want to blame someone else for your wrongful behavior. This also clearly shows your lack of empathy.
However, when you take a deep breath and give yourself some space to actually understand the situation and how you can deal with it maturely, you will develop a sense of empathy. You should in no way treat the other person less than how you want to be treated.
Remember that the best way to nurture empathy is by understanding and giving the other person space as well.
Build Healthy Relationships over the Internet
Although it is a well-known fact that one hardly builds healthy relationships over the internet, it can still be done. You can always use the internet in a way that it feels like you are having a face-to-face conversation, such as video calls.
This way, you can always see the other person’s expression, which gives you the opportunity to see and understand their emotions. Moreover, you don’t misjudge what the other person actually means.
You should also never feel like you are superior to anyone else, as it will further reduce your capacity to feel empathetic to the other person.
All in All
As we shared earlier, the internet has introduced many advantages to our lives, but it has also reduced our ability to feel empathy for the other person. That is why, we have shared the four things you should do if you want to improve your ability to feel empathy.
If you know there are better or more ways to build your capacity to feel empathy, feel free to share them with us below!
