Practice Empathy: Skill 5: Empathy for Celebration

Each MCD Relationship Competency identifies 6 Skills, along with specific practices for learning each. For more context about MCD Relationship Competency 2: Empathy, see Skill 1: Identify the differences between empathy and other responses to difficulty, Skill 2: Identify what prevents you from offering empathy, Skill 3: Use a diverse vocabulary of feelings and needs, and Skill 4: Identify 12 essential aspects of empathy.

Skill 5: Empathy for Celebration: Offer empathy guesses for someone when their needs are perceived to be met

When you receive appreciation or any form of celebration with curiosity and empathy, you have a precious opportunity to deepen emotional resources and learn more about how someone thrives and what brings them joy.

You also open up to layers of nuance about what meets needs. This is helpful at other times when making requests

Empathy can offer clarity and connection when you hear praise or other positive judgments, by inviting both into the shared field of feelings and needs. 

PRACTICE

This week set your intention to notice when someone is expressing something they are happy about or offering you an appreciation (celebration of a met need). Reflect back what you hear and offer a guess about a feeling or a need.