If you identify as having high levels of empathy, you can truly feel and understand what other people are feeling, which makes your relationships healthier and more supportive. Chances are, you probably also use these 15 phrases regularly in conversation with people in your daily life.
1. “Tell me more.”
Encouraging people to continue talking about what they’re feeling and thinking is a great way to move a conversation forward. You can easily do this with a phrase such as, “Go on” or “Tell me more.” It shows the person you’re interested in what they have to say and engaged in the conversation. They’ll feel validated and like you care about them.
2. “Your feelings are valid.”
When you partake in emotional validation, you’re showing them that you have lots of empathy. Sometimes, people might avoid opening up to others for fear of being rejected or judged, so reminding them that they have a right to feel what they feel is a way to tell them that they can be completely open with you. Even if you don’t agree with their opinions, you’re still respectful of them.
3. “Thanks for sharing this with me.”
Having high levels of empathy isn’t just about acknowledging and validating other people’s feelings. It’s also about showing gratitude for times when they trust you enough to share what’s on their mind and in their heart. Saying something like, “Thanks for trusting me with this” helps the other person to feel that you’re respecting what they share with you.
4. “I can feel in my body how heavy this is.”
When someone tells you something traumatic or stressful that they’re dealing with, it’s not always easy to convey how much you feel what they’re experiencing, even though as an empath, you carry their difficult feelings. You can help them understand this while also showing them that you support them, by saying something like, “I can feel in my body how heavy this is.” This phrase also works well when it feels like there are no words to describe your feelings.
5. “I hear you.”
A simple phrase such as “I hear you” or “I totally get what you’re saying” helps the other person to feel heard, which is what everyone wants. It also encourages them to continue talking about what they need to get off their chest, as they feel acknowledged and understood.
6. “Can you explain what you mean?”
An important part of being empathetic is rephrasing what the other person has said to show understanding. However, you might not always “get” what they mean, which is why saying something like, “Could you rephrase that so I understand it better?” or “Can you explain what you mean?” is so valuable. It shows the person that you’re invested in the conversation and are putting in effort to understand their feelings.
7. “How do you feel?”
Instead of solely focusing on what the other person is going to do to fix whatever problem they have, it’s just as important to ask them how they feel. Empaths acknowledge and understand other people’s emotions, while being curious about how others see the world. They also know the importance of pausing and listening, instead of trying to fix everything.
8. “I see you.”
This is a variation of “I hear you,” but it’s just as powerful. If someone is feeling alone in their situation or like no one really understands them, simply telling them “I see you” is a positive way to make them feel your support. “I see you” can also refer to how empaths pay attention to people’s body language, not just what they say. So, if someone looks sad, they might say, “I see you’re feeling down about it. Want to talk?”
9. “I’d love your opinion.”
Everyone wants to feel like they have something of value to contribute to the world. Being an empath means that you’re always keen to see what people want to share with others, and you’re willing to learn from their perspectives on various situations. Telling someone that you’d love to get their opinion on something is a way to reach out to them and make them feel seen.
10. “Let’s talk about it and find a solution together.”
If a friend or co-worker has a problem they’re going through, you resist the temptation to mansplain or give them unsolicited advice. Instead, you focus on collaboration by suggesting that you can work together to find a solution. This helps the person to feel your support as you acknowledge their concerns while assisting them find a way forward.
11. “I was wrong.”
Having empathy enables you to better understand what someone else is feeling in a situation, Verywell Mind explains. So, even if you don’t initially think you did anything wrong to upset them, it causes you to stop and reflect on what happened. Imagining yourself in the person’s shoes and seeing things through their eyes can help you to see what you might’ve done to offend them. Saying, “I’m sorry, I was wrong” ensures you can make things right.
12. “If that happened to me, I’d also be angry/sad.”
Sometimes, it’s not enough to simply tell someone that you understand what they’re saying. By imagining yourself in their position, you can clarify their situation and show them empathy. For example, simply saying, “If I were you, I’d feel angry/sad too if my partner didn’t reply to my message for three days” helps the other person to feel understood.
13. “You’re not alone.”
No one wants to feel isolated, but sometimes dealing with intense stress can cause people to withdraw from their loved ones. By reaching out to them and telling them that they’re not alone, you can easily show support and encourage them to open up their hearts to express what they’re going through.
14. “I’m here to listen.”
Sometimes, people don’t want to talk about their problems or issues, and that’s fine. Being empathetic isn’t about forcing them to open up. Instead, as someone with high levels of empathy, you can respect their boundaries while showing support by saying, “If you want to talk about it, I’m here to listen.” This shows them that even if they don’t want a solution to their problem, they can still vent.
15. “How can I help?”
Helping others isn’t always a good deed. Jumping in with your own solutions and suggestions can cause bigger problems for the person who’s already stressed out! Having empathy helps you to be more polite about asking if you can help. You could even ask the person if they have anything right now that you can do to assist them with whatever they’re dealing with, to show them that you’re keen to offer a helping hand (or heart).
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