{"id":118996,"date":"2023-12-11T16:19:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T20:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=118996"},"modified":"2023-12-12T16:20:46","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T20:20:46","slug":"brene-brown-on-empathy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/brene-brown-on-empathy\/","title":{"rendered":"Bren\u00e9 Brown on Empathy &#038; Shame: Her Best Pieces of Advice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What\u2019s Bren\u00e9 Brown\u2019s advice on empathy and shame? In her words, how does empathy help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-overcome-shame\/\">overcome shame<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bren\u00e9 Brown is a world-renowned author who\u2019s known for her work on shame, wholeheartedness, and leadership. In most of her books, she discusses the concept of empathy, and where it falls in human nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read below for more about Bren\u00e9 Brown on empathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-brene-brown-s-definition-of-empathy\"><strong>Bren\u00e9 Brown\u2019s Definition of Empathy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bren\u00e9 Brown\u2019s empathy definition says that it\u2019s the ability to understand and echo what someone else feels. <\/strong>However,<strong> <\/strong>note that empathy doesn\u2019t mean imagining yourself in someone else\u2019s place, or \u201cwalking a mile in his shoes,\u201d as the old saying goes\u2014trying to do so will cause you to bring your own biases and experiences to the situation. Rather, it means that you understand and accept the other person\u2019s feelings, even if they might not be the same feelings you\u2019d have in his place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/atlas-of-the-heart\/preview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Atlas of the Heart<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong>, Brown adds that <em>compassion<\/em> is empathy plus action: <\/strong>It\u2019s the practice of relating to others and, as a result, acting to ease their suffering.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Brown says that <\/strong><strong><em>sympathy <\/em><\/strong><strong>is the near enemy of empathy: It looks the same, but there\u2019s no <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/sense-of-connectedness\/\">sense of connection<\/a>. <\/strong>Just the opposite, in fact\u2014sympathy draws a clear line between the person suffering and ourselves. In other words, sympathy is feeling bad for someone, but being unable (or unwilling) to relate to that person.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brown adds that <em>pity<\/em> is sympathy with a sense of hierarchy: <strong>We don\u2019t just feel bad for the person suffering, we feel like he or she is somehow \u201cless than\u201d we are. <\/strong>For instance, drug addicts are common subjects of pity\u2014people often feel bad for them, but also consider them distasteful or dangerous, and they may even blame the addicts for their own situations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pity involves <\/strong><strong><em>comparison<\/em><\/strong><strong>:<\/strong><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><strong>evaluating or ranking ourselves in relation to others. <\/strong>Those self-assigned \u201cranks\u201d can affect everything from how we speak to others to how we feel about ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brown notes a common misconception about comparisons: Thinking that others are \u201cabove\u201d us makes us feel bad, while thinking others are \u201cbelow\u201d us makes us feel good. In fact, either type of comparison can cause positive or negative emotions. For instance, thinking that someone is stronger, smarter, or more skilled than you could be disheartening, but it could also inspire you to try to reach his or her level. Similarly, thinking that others are worse than you in some way might feed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/your-ego\/\">your ego<\/a>, or it might frustrate you that they don\u2019t live up to your standards.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-empathy-overcomes-personal-shame\"><strong>Empathy Overcomes Personal Shame<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Shame is a large part of Bren\u00e9 Brown\u2019s empathy research. In<strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/atlas-of-the-heart\/preview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Daring Greatly<\/em><\/a>, Brown writes that shame is the greatest obstacle to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wholehearted-living\/\">wholehearted living<\/a>. Shame makes you feel like you\u2019re not enough as you are, and it causes you to fear you\u2019re not worthy of connection or belonging. It\u2019s the result of living in a culture that encourages you to believe you must live an extraordinary life for it to be a meaningful one. <strong>You feel shame when the reality of your life doesn\u2019t match your own expectations or the expectations of others.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shame kills your courage, impedes your ability to think or act in innovative ways, and prevents you from experiencing life meaningfully. Shame thrives when kept hidden and left unchecked. For shame to survive, it needs you to believe you\u2019re not connected and don\u2019t belong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re feeling shame, empathy is an important part of the antidote, and you need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/eckhart-tolle-relationships-how-to-be-present\/\">connect with others<\/a> to facilitate that. Once you have developed critical awareness of an experience, you can reach out to a trusted friend or family member and share how you\u2019re feeling. This is critical because it supports you to know that you are worthy of being heard and that you are not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-empathy-in-the-workplace\"><strong>Empathy in the Workplace<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feeling-ashamed\/\">Overcoming shame<\/a> and practicing empathy matters for leaders, according to Brown in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/dare-to-lead\/preview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Dare to Lead<\/em><\/a>, because shame drives toxic behaviors,like bullying, at work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brown explains that to overcome shame, you must <em>talk through it<\/em>. As a leader, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/support-your-team\/\">support your team<\/a> members in this process by <strong>encouraging them to discuss their struggles with you and responding to these struggles with empathy<\/strong>. By doing so, you\u2019ll demonstrate to team members how they can practice empathy among themselves. Moreover, your team members will be more likely to take risks in the future if they know they\u2019ll be supported if they struggle.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To effectively practice empathy, Brown notes, you must understand that empathy is a <em>connection<\/em> with the emotions tied to someone\u2019s struggle or failure\u2014not just an attempt to make things better. So when your team struggles, focus on being nonjudgmental, understanding the emotions of the other person, and opening up the opportunity to talk about the feelings surrounding the experience. For example, after a team member has a tough presentation, you can respond with empathy by saying, \u201cI\u2019m really sorry for how that presentation went. I know it can be embarrassing. Do you want to talk about it?\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-brene-brown-s-empathy-practices-to-combat-shame\"><strong>Bren\u00e9 Brown\u2019s Empathy Practices to Combat Shame<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve explored what empathy and shame are, let\u2019s look at some specific practices for overcoming shame and building empathy. There are three main practices that<em> <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/i-thought-it-was-just-me-but-it-isnt\/preview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn\u2019t)<\/em><\/a> recommends you integrate into your daily life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-practice-1-acknowledge-your-shame-and-what-causes-it\"><strong>Practice #1: Acknowledge Your Shame and What Causes It<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>First, Brown notes, to start building empathy and combating shame, you must recognize when you\u2019re experiencing shame and what\u2019s causing it<\/strong>. Recognizing your shame and its causes will allow you to separate from your negative <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/thoughts-feelings-and-behaviors\/\">thoughts and emotions<\/a> before they can cause you to experience <em>fear<\/em>, react with <em>blame,<\/em> and become <em>disconnected<\/em> from yourself and others. Acknowledging your shame will enable you to practice <em>courage,<\/em> <em>compassion<\/em>, and <em>connection<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two parts to this practice. The first is to identify how shame feels. The second is to identify the identities and situations that cause that shame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-identify-how-shame-feels\"><strong>Identify How Shame Feels<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Brown explains that you can identify shame by reflecting on how it feels in your body<\/strong>. She says shame feels different for everyone\u2014for some people, it might feel like a knot in their stomach, and for others, a pounding in their chest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To identify how <em>you<\/em> react to shame, think of a recent experience you\u2019ve had with shame\u2014where in your body did you feel its physical effects? What did they feel like? For example, you might have felt burning, throbbing, or numbness. Are there any other sensations you experience? For example, maybe you get a metallic taste in your mouth. Are there any instincts that pop into your mind? For example, you might want to run, fight, hide, or yell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Remember how shame feels for you so you can recognize it the next time it crops up and stop it from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/control-your-thoughts\/\">controlling your thoughts<\/a>, behaviors, and actions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-identify-the-root-causes-of-your-shame\"><strong>Identify the Root Causes of Your Shame<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Brown explains that to identify the root causes of your shame, you must confront the disdained identities that trigger you.<\/strong> To do this, consider the identities that you value and want to uphold and the identities that you look down on and don\u2019t want to be associated with. For example, if you highly value the identity of being smart, one of the causes of your shame might be being associated with the opposite\u2014being stupid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Identifying the identities you disdain is crucial for two reasons. First, it allows you to recognize situations that may trigger your shame so that you can respond productively with <em>courage <\/em>and<em> compassion <\/em>rather than being consumed by <em>fear <\/em>and<em> blame. <\/em>Second, identifying the identities you disdain will indicate which negative beliefs you need to work on overcoming so they no longer cause you shame\u2014we\u2019ll discuss this further in Practice #2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-practice-2-develop-critical-awareness-of-shame\"><strong>Practice #2: Develop Critical Awareness of Shame&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Brown explains that a second vital practice in developing empathy and combating shame is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/understanding-shame\/\">understand shame<\/a> with <\/strong><strong><em>critical awareness<\/em><\/strong>. Brown defines critical awareness (as it relates to shame) as an understanding of why we deem certain identities as shameful, how shame around these identities impacts society, who\u2019s most affected by the shame of identities, and who benefits the most from them. Try to understand each of the disdained identities you identified in Practice #1 with critical awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To develop critical awareness about shame, think of an identity that makes you feel ashamed. Which components of this shameful identity contradict society\u2019s or your inner circle\u2019s expectations? Then, think of the ideal you feel like you&#8217;re supposed to be living up to instead, and consider its impact on society at large: Who suffers because of this ideal&#8217;s existence, and who profits from it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you may feel ashamed for looking \u201cpoor\u201d rather than \u201cupper-class.\u201d Looking \u201cpoor\u201d could mean wearing unfashionable clothes or owning outdated technology instead of always wearing new, fashionable clothes and having the newest technology\u2014these are things that society expects \u201cupper-class\u201d people to do. On a societal level, the shame around this identity causes people to judge each other&#8217;s worth based on the materials they own. This materialism probably serves to benefit big businesses at the expense of average people who feel ashamed for looking poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Critical awareness makes you realize that most disdained identities are unfairly demonized and stem from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/impossible-expectations\/\">unrealistic expectations<\/a> that harm one group of people to benefit another.<\/strong> Brown explains that this realization helps you combat shame in a few ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, it makes you understand that failing to meet unrealistic or unfair expectations <em>doesn\u2019t <\/em>make you defective (boosting <em>courage<\/em>). Second, it makes you realize that you\u2019re not the only person suffering from these expectations and pressures\u2014others are dealing with similar pain (fostering <em>compassion)<\/em>. Finally, sharing this realization with others can decrease the prevalence of shame and help de-stigmatize \u201cshameful\u201d identities (helping you <em>connect<\/em> with others).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-practice-3-learn-to-talk-about-shame-and-connect-with-others\"><strong>Practice #3: Learn to Talk About Shame and Connect With Others<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Brown\u2019s final practice for developing empathy and combating shame is learning how to talk about shame and connect with others.<\/strong> We connect with others by sharing experiences and establishing mutual support. This is crucial to combating shame because it facilitates the empathy element of <em>connection, <\/em>which helps you put <em>courage <\/em>and <em>compassion <\/em>into action. Further, once you learn how to express your own shame and ask for support, you\u2019ll be better equipped to listen to others and support <em>them<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-words\"><strong>Final Words<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Being one of the leading authors on emotional intelligence, Bren\u00e9 Brown\u2019s empathy advice shouldn\u2019t be taken for granted. Her advice applies to people from all walks of life, as empathy is a universal ability that everyone should have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Is there more we can add to this article about Bren\u00e9 Brown on empathy? Let us know in the comments below!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What\u2019s Bren\u00e9 Brown\u2019s advice on empathy and shame? In her words, how does empathy help you overcome shame? Bren\u00e9 Brown is a world-renowned author who\u2019s known for her work on shame, wholeheartedness, and leadership. In most of her books, she discusses the concept of empathy, and where it falls in human nature. Read below for more about Bren\u00e9 Brown on empathy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":88245,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,9,43],"tags":[452],"class_list":["post-118996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","category-psychology","category-self-improvement","tag-guides","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Bren\u00e9 Brown on Empathy &amp; Shame: Her Best Pieces of Advice - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Bren\u00e9 Brown is a successful author known for her work on human connection. 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