Amidst growing global inequities, economic uncertainty, and new norms for social distancing (both physically and psychologically), the topic of empathy is a growing concern in our personal and professional lives. While empathy is commonly understood as an innate ability exhibited by individuals, focus is shifting towards empathy as a systemic practice that has to be intentionally designed and cultivated. Whether through national humanitarian policy, corporate workflows, classroom design, or a single child learning to be more understanding of others, fostering empathy is a personal and collective responsibility. Actively imagining and engaging with others’ lived realities is both part of our biological make-up as humans, as well as an ability that has to be learned and facilitated.
This emerging shift in our approach to empathy raises essential questions: if empathy is such an important human ability, why do we so often lack empathy toward individuals outside of our communities? Are changing social, political, and economic climates leading to generational differences in empathy? What do empathetic organizations, societies, and nations look like? How do we teach empathy to our young people and use technology to help us, rather than hinder us?
Building empathy into our lives urges us to look inwards at our emotions and experiences, potentially revealing uncomfortable or inspiring truths about our decision-making. By better understanding our biases, motivations, and compassion for others, we can better connect our inner lives with the external world and those around us.
Below, you’ll find a curated collection of resources that explore the diverse dimensions of empathy—how to nurture it, facilitate it in developing consumer-driven solutions, and use it to meaningfully support our communities in times of need.
