While I would love to live in a post-empathic world, where people were just eager to learn about and share with one another, and explore human communication to its utmost ends, I find that instead I live in a world where some people are still not seen as entitled to or deserving of the same human kindness, opportunity, and support as others. Even decades after the Civil Rights movement, we still live in a world where the ‘other’ as an outsider is feared, despised, and dehumanized.

This was poignantly highlighted during a recent segment on Democracy Now, where an activist from Puerto Rico discussed the insufficient support provided to the territory following Hurricane Maria. The U.S. has allocated only a third of the assistance to Puerto Rico compared to that offered to Texas and Florida. The Jones Act further complicates the situation, restricting foreign aid from reaching the island by mandating that only U.S. vessels transport goods between U.S. ports. Although the ban was temporarily lifted, the exemption lasted merely ten days. The implication is clear: Puerto Ricans, despite being U.S. citizens, do not receive the same level of care and support as their counterparts on the mainland.

To foster genuine connection, we must view one another as distinct individuals facing similar struggles and aspirations. Our inclination is to engage more deeply with those we perceive as kin or similar to ourselves, but we often falter when it comes to understanding the lived experiences of those we consider different. This tendency to disengage is compounded by our biases and emotional fatigue.

Listening and empathizing can sometimes drain our emotional resources. In our attempts to understand others’ feelings, we may conflate our emotional states with theirs, leading to a disconnect. True empathy involves recognizing and acknowledging another person’s emotions without losing our own grounding.

An interview between Krista Tippett and Joan Halifax on On Being highlights that expert meditation practitioners often exhibit greater sensitivity to empathy and can recover more quickly from intense emotional reactions. This ability allows them to transition from empathic distress to a more relaxed, reflective state of compassion that focuses on the needs of others rather than becoming self-absorbed.

In today’s digital age, we have unprecedented access to emotionally charged content through social media and news platforms. As we navigate these overwhelming streams of information, our capacity for empathy can become saturated, leaving us feeling powerless and distressed about the state of the world.

I propose that the ability to regulate one’s emotions and distinguish between personal feelings and those of others is crucial for mitigating empathic distress. My goal is to develop a tool that fosters curiosity about the emotional states and personal histories of individuals, enhancing our collective understanding and compassion.