posted on Jun, 13 2008 @ 09:17 PM
Here's an exercise that really affected me when I first tried it, years ago:
Consciously practice empathy
It's simple. No meditation, forced concentration, or studying involved. Just sit on a bench somewhere, in public, and watch people go by. Wear
sunglasses if you want, if you're worried about creeping anybody out by staring.
Look at the people. See how they carry their emotions, troubles, experiences, all with them, in every action and pose. Realize that everyone you see
is someone's beloved son or daughter. Look at them in that light. They may have siblings -- imagine how you would feel if they were your
brother or sister. Entertain that feeling, see how real it feels to you, notice what feelings vary from person to person, don't judge. After a
while, the sense of empathy 'tunes in', and you notice so much more about people than you would have ever thought obvious.