“Self-neglect over time blunts the ability to perceive or respond to the needs of other people because it diminishes the resources we have available for an empathic response. You have to help yourself before you can help others.” (Helen Riess, Director of Empathy Research, Harvard Medical School)

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Understanding the concept of empathy also means to acknowledge that empathy is not only something we give to others. But we also need to learn how to receive empathy and how to be empathetic to ourselves. In order to ‘be with someone else’, we first have to help ourselves. The “beEmpathy” framework can also be used for practising self-empathy. For this task, every student should bring an object from home that they connect with (self-) empathy. Sitting in a circle, each students shows their object and explains why they connect it with (self-) empathy. Thereby the students should connect their stories to the “beEmpathy” framework. Which of the four steps is especially expressed though the object? After the students shared their stories they put their object in the middle of the circle. In the end, the class will have created a multifaceted collection of empathy.

 

The following questions can inform a discussion

about self-empathy:

 

How do you interpret self-empathy?

How can you apply the “beEmpathy” framework to yourself?

How do you take care of yourself?

What can you do to feel ready to give someone else empathy?

How does it feel to receive empathy?

Is receiving empathy part of self-empathy?

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NOTE:

“selfEmpathy” is a great opportunity to also conduct the “breathingExercise”. It helps the students to calm down and recognise their emotions.