Do You Have Spiritual Empathy? By Dr. Judith Orloff

What is spiritual empathy? How can it help you in your life? It is an important form of heartful perception that many people might not consider.

In The Genius of Empathy, I describe spiritual empathy as empathizing with others through one’s spirituality. Consider this style “divining empathy,” which describes the process of connecting to spirituality (however you define it) to open your heart. For some, spirituality could be God, Goddess, nature, a creative intelligence, or the power of love. The divine is a stepping stone to your large, compassionate self. You become a vessel for Spirit as you give and receive empathy. In some spiritual traditions, ego = edging God out, which you are less prone to do. This style reflects the sublime perspective of the Prayer of Saint Francis that says,

Make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is despair, hope. . . . For it is in giving that we receive.

If you have spiritual empathy, you may be drawn to the clergy or charitable nonprofit work. Satisfying careers include being a spiritual psychotherapist, a life coach, an acupuncturist, or a yoga instructor. Or you may be a writer, editor, or publisher who values getting “spiritual” books out to the world. Also, you can bring this empathy style into the corporate culture and leadership models to create a more cooperative, empathic workplace.

Here are the advantages and potential disadvantages of having Spiritual Empathy.

Advantages

Disadvantages

To ground yourself in this style of empathy, many Asian spiritual traditions such as Taoism and Buddhism recognize the importance of taking the Middle Path. This means being of heaven and of the earth. It is a way of life that avoids extremes and encourages you to tend to your whole self: mind, body, and spirit.

Finding Balance: Follow the Middle Path

Every day, remember to give to yourself. Helping others is admirable, but also honor your physical and emotional needs, your quiet time, and your energy level. As Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, “We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Thus, nourishing your human part is vital. Make time for at least one grounding activity daily, such as exercise, gardening, putting your bare feet on the ground (earthing), dancing, listening to music, eating healthy food, yoga . . . whatever makes you happy and strengthens your body.