Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Why empathy matters

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” - To Kill a Mockingbird

There is perhaps nothing worse than watching someone suffer.


Feeling another’s pain or absorbing their grief can be unpleasant and distressing. You may feel awkward for not knowing what to say or do, and often, to protect our own vulnerability or ease our discomfort we may turn away. But when we are confronted with moments like these, no matter how unpleasant, there is an opportunity to practice empathy.

But what is empathy? Many people confuse empathy and sympathy because there are many varying definitions. Essentially, empathy is ‘feeling with someone’ and sympathy is ‘feeling sorry for someone’. But empathy is more than this. It involves ‘putting yourself in their shoes’ to imagine what they are feeling, and a genuine concern for their welfare. And it requires an awareness of our emotions, so we have the ability to separate their pain from our discomfort.

According to research by Dr Helen Riess at Harvard Medical School, empathy is dependent on specific parts of our brains that have evolved to form emotional connections with people, alongside inner motivation to care for them.

In essence, we are wired to be empathetic, but it is something that we perhaps need to learn or enhance. And of course, empathy will vary from person to person depending on their life experiences, social, psychological and spiritual perspectives.

We may not be able to empathise with everyone and that’s ok, but it can be strengthened to create a better understanding of your inner world and the environment around you. You can try these tips:

Be fully present: Focus your attention on them without distractions when they are talking.

Eye contact: An appropriate level of eye contact makes people feel seen and improves communication.

Facial expressions: Be mindful of your expressions and keep them soft.

Open body language: Keep your arms and legs uncrossed and face forward to encourage open communication and trust.

Voice control: It is crucial in empathy because a raised tone can come across harshly, whereas a soothing one can make someone feel heard.

Give reassurance: When listening, nod when you understand or place your hand on their arm to show your connection.

Show respect: Listening without interrupting, rejection or making a joke of it. If you feel frustrated, ask for a break.

Clarify: Ensure you have understood what they are saying and ask questions if unsure.

Validate their feelings: Whether you agree with them or not, you can accept their right to feel what they feel.

Even if empathy doesn’t seemingly come naturally to you, allowing yourself to confront uncomfortable situations can help build it for your own wellbeing and deepening your relationship with others. It is pivotal in helping to create a society of respect, understanding and unity.

www.mitamistry.co.uk or www.twitter.com/MitaMistry

More For You

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches

The chain had also gained a following for its themed brunches

iStock

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches after 20 years

Key points

  • Chinese dim sum restaurant Ping Pong has closed all its UK locations
  • The chain made the announcement via social media
  • Founded in 2005, the brand thanked customers and staff for their support
  • Loyal diners shared memories and disappointment in the comments

All branches are permanently closed

Chinese restaurant chain Ping Pong has permanently closed all its branches in the UK, the company confirmed in a social media announcement.

Founded in 2005 by restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, the dim sum chain had become popular for its stylish interiors, creative menus, and Asian-inspired cocktails. The company did not provide prior notice of the closure but said the decision marked the end of an “unforgettable” 20-year journey.

Keep ReadingShow less
New Covid strain

Experts have raised concerns about the immune-evasive nature of the Stratus strain

iStock

New Covid strain Stratus spreads in UK with unusual hoarse voice symptom

Key points

  • A new Covid strain known as Stratus is spreading across the UK
  • The variant is marked by a distinctive symptom: a hoarse or raspy voice
  • Sub-variants XFG and XFG.3 now account for 30% of cases in England
  • Experts say there is no evidence of more severe disease
  • Lower immunity levels may make more people vulnerable to infection

Covid variant Stratus on the rise in the UK

A new strain of Covid-19, known as Stratus, is spreading across the UK and drawing attention for its unusual symptom — a hoarse or raspy voice. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus and its two sub-variants, XFG and XFG.3, are responsible for around 30 per cent of Covid cases in England.

Of the two, XFG.3 is currently the more dominant. The UKHSA confirmed that monitoring of all circulating Covid-19 variants is ongoing as part of regular surveillance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Human brain continues forming neurons

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain

iStock

Human brain continues forming neurons well into old age, study finds

Key points

  • New neurons continue forming in the brain’s hippocampus into old age
  • Study confirms presence of neural progenitor cells in adults
  • DNA carbon dating and single-nucleus RNA sequencing were used
  • Research shows variation in neuron production between individuals
  • Findings could aid treatments for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders

Human brain shows ongoing neuron formation into older age

A new study has confirmed that the human brain continues to produce new nerve cells well into late adulthood, challenging previous assumptions about age-related decline in neurogenesis. The findings, published in the journal Science, provide fresh insight into how adaptable the brain remains over a lifetime.

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain, is known to occur in the hippocampus — a region involved in memory. While previous research has suggested that this process continues throughout life, there has been limited concrete evidence of the presence of neural progenitor cells in the adult brain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent County Show 2025

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley

Getty Images

Kent County Show opens with royal visit from Duchess of Edinburgh

Key points:

  • Day one of the Kent County Show begins at Detling Showground near Maidstone
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the event for the first time in 16 years
  • Organisers expect up to 70,000 visitors over the weekend
  • Farming and rural life are at the centre of the three-day programme
  • Highlights include live camel racing, equine sports, livestock displays and more

Kent County Show opens with royal visit

The Kent County Show returned to Detling near Maidstone on Friday, marking the start of a major three-day celebration of farming, food, and rural living. The event opened with a special visit from the Duchess of Edinburgh, who is attending for the first time in 16 years.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley near Tunbridge Wells and serves as patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), met with farmers, equine exhibitors, and local businesses on her tour of the showground.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Aurobindo

Heehs’s biography is grounded in extensive archival research across France, England, India and Israel

AMG

Sri Aurobindo and the rise of the Asian century

Dinesh Sharma

My friend and colleague, the American historian Peter Heehs, who has lived in Pondicherry, India, for decades, recently published a compelling new biography, The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo’s Collaborator (2025). Heehs previously authored The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (2008), which remains one of the most balanced and scholarly accounts of Aurobindo’s life.

According to Heehs, most previous biographies of the Mother were written for devotees and relied on secondary sources, often presenting her as a divine incarnation without critical engagement. “Such biographies are fine for those who see the Mother as a divine being,” Heehs said, “but they can be off-putting for readers who simply want to understand her life – as an artist, writer, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Ashram and Auroville.”

Keep ReadingShow less