Opinions - We need to travel to develop empathy
We are a generation that is continually focused on the desire of and working towards making or having an lasting impact on this world. Hence, it is imperative that we tune ourselves to the needs of its individuals and communities. We are used to logical thinking, but the problem with that is logical thinking makes one see things in black and white while the world is full of varying shades of grey. Sometimes, it is not about doing what is fair, but rather about doing what is right. And for most people, that can be a difficult pill to swallow.
To start with, let's ditch for the moment any assumptions that we know what is best.
One of the best ways to develop empathy as a person is to travel.
Travel puts you out of your comfort zone. It makes you see new places and people, hear new sounds, taste new food, and have different experiences. But it does something else. It helps you to identify and understand the situation, feelings and motives of another person. This is the process of developing empathy, a skill that can be often hard to develop in everyday life.
Travel can not only improve each of our lives, but it can also make the world a better place. How exactly does it do that? And what does it have to do with empathy?
Travelling helps us realize that something which is different need not be necessarily wrong. Sometimes, there is no right way or the wrong way. There are just many different ways. When we travel and experience life of people from different places and cultures, issues which we presume as de facto sometimes have a whole story behind them. The most important thing is we realize that people have different opinions based on their own experiences, stories and lives.
Empathy helps us understand that, and ourselves a little better.
When we travel, we meet people from various backgrounds and places, each with their own story. The general picture that can be conveyed from this is the fact that our problems are in fact, minuscule, compared to the world at large. There are people in Syria, or Iraq, right now, fleeing from home, leaving behind everything they knew, to get to a place that offers some hope. When we travel, and hear such stories, we immediately realize how better or well off our life is compared to those people. This is what will teach one empathy, and develops a greater understanding on the moral fabric of life.
Today, our generation's pursuit of travel has been more of experiences and moments rather than traditional holidays in sun, sand and surf. We seek raw stories, genuine experiences and real people. A place might be wonderful, but a genuine interaction with people in that place can be extremely satisfying. When people travel, they are also more open to other travellers, and share stories easily, compared to two people who are working side by side in the same office. This simplicity, and shared humanity, often reaffirm the essence of life and its myriad of experiences, and gives some meaning of our own lives. This, in turn, builds empathy.
It aids one to understand the other person’s need, so we can effectively contribute. How can we expect to help others, if we do not seek to understand who they are, and what they truly need?
And why does it matter? Because, in the end, our travels and the empathy we show can help to build a little more peace in ourselves, and in the world.
Please upvote, comment and follow. Read some of my other opinions posts via the links below:
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Opinions - Of mortal dreams and motorcycles
Opinions - Of motorcycles and love stories
Of scuba diving and motorcycle racers - A slow life between fast lanes?
Motorcycle stories - How I got into motorcycle racing
A high-speed crash and life lessons
Introduction Post - My introduction for Steemit
Read the letters my bike writes on a regular basis;
Hope writes a letter - Crazy fridays and I find out I am not a car person
Hope writes a letter - Hello world! I am Hope!
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Yo batz, great post. This is so important for us all to have more empathy and compassion for each other, and also for nature and life in general.
In life I feel we should be a good person and help others because it feels good and right, not just because we are supposed to. We can all be Working together to build each other up and enjoy and praise others success and wellbeing. Never look down on others and always try our best to be the change in the world that we want to see.
There is lots of jealously and unhealthy competitive nature, especially where I am from. Sure it’s inportant to be competitive and strive to be the best you can be, but also through helping others build confidence and rise together.
Thanks for this post again batz, it has refocused me today :) I hope you have a great week!
Also, if you watched the MotoGP yesterday WOW what a race!!! :D
empathy I feel is more valuable than compassion. Compassion often comes across as us feeling sorry for someone. But empathy is more of "I relate to your problem. I am not feeling sorry for you, but I understand your problem and can help if possible"
But yes, we need both, empathy and compassion for nature and people.
I did rather prefer a conducive and learning environment than a competitive environment. It gets toxic pretty fast and takes a toll. In a competitive environment, there's only one winner. In a conducive environment, everyone wins and it creates a better atmosphere to work.
Competition is for sports.
Yup, wouldn't miss the first race of the season. Great race. I knew Marc would do some last lap trick, and Dovi pulled the rabbit out of the hat just when you expected it. 3-0. Good drama. Few more laps and #25 and the Doctor would have been slugging it out as well. I hope this year Vale gets in the mix for the title too, if Yamaha can do some good work!
Some very good points there, I hadn’t really looked at compassion in that way before but you are right. Empathy is important and needed. We all just need to learn to work together and have more love for everyone and everything, it’s easy for people to forget what is truly important.
Awesome I knew you wouldn’t miss it! What a race, I thought Zarco was going to win until he got his rhythm upset. Cruthlow was looking good and fast! If he doesn’t crash much this season, he might be able to make it into the top 3 more often than not I think! So many great riders. Yep #25 was certainly catching! Vale looked strong and was only about 1 second from the front, but I think he pushed a bit too hard on his tyres during the first 10 laps due to starting from 8th. A classic dovi vs Marquez finish! I knew Marc was going to try something, he always does! This season is going to be great, it would be a dream for vale to win his 10th title! Lots of riders look strong, I can’t wait for the next one :)
Agreed.
Vale had only two choices - push for outright speed from the start, or manage tyres and loose speed. He choose option #1 and in his own words "if the tyre starts to loose grip, then that's it. Ciao"
Zarco is fast, but to win on a satellite Yamaha with the likes of Dovi, Marc, Vale all in the mix is quite a mountain to climb.
It is very powerful to see how others live and sometimes you come home very grateful. We won the global lottery solely by being born in the western world.
Agree on the global lottery. Imagine being born in Syria right now, or some African country!
Being born in the western world is a privilege that very few people care to acknowledge. Rather, other pettier things concern most of us.
ps: not born in the west. Been there often :)
yes I truly do agree with you. traveling is one of the best thing in the world. my policy in life is "EARN TRAVEL AND JUST REPEAT". I purely believe in it.
Traveling helps us to relax, we learn different cultures and different peoples, added to that we live new experiences.
Agree. Experiences that matter and make us better.
Wow dude.. that's one of the best post I read today.. I really mean it. I always got that feeling when I traveled but never thought of it so deeply has you made me do it now as I was reading your post. Congrats bro ;)
Once we start to travel being more mindful of why it is we travel, it takes a different meaning to us. Cheers!