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Empathy
Feb 1, 2007 14:03:53 GMT -5
Post by Hachelen on Feb 1, 2007 14:03:53 GMT -5
Originally posted by Jinsei
Related to Force Sense. The Force endows the person with the skill to read the thoughts and emotions of another being.
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Empathy
Feb 1, 2007 14:04:29 GMT -5
Post by Hachelen on Feb 1, 2007 14:04:29 GMT -5
Icarus said:
I think that we all do this anyway. How many times have you just been around someone and started to "feel" negative/positive thoughts, seen images that were not our own, heard things that were alien to us?
We all do this to some degree or another. It is just a matter of focusing onto one energy pattern of a certain individual and letting the "messages" flow.
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Empathy
Feb 1, 2007 14:05:08 GMT -5
Post by Hachelen on Feb 1, 2007 14:05:08 GMT -5
LDS_Jedi said:
Empathy is a powerful tool in seeing things from someone else's perspective and can help control our emotions. Often conflict can be settled by listening with the intent to hear... yet many of us listen with the intent to answer.
Empathy allows you the clear state of mind to listen with the intent to hear and understand. If more and more people would do this... I would wager there would be less violence in our society.
Without Empathy we often listen with the intent of responding. We do not hear from the other person's perspective and thus we "hear what we want to hear" leaving us only half of what was said.
The lack of Empathy leads to Anger. Anger is a weakness -- not a strength. When the weakness of Anger takes over, the strength of reason leaves. Empathy is a powerful tool in the cultivating of the skill of controlling our emotions and thus our actions.
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Empathy
Feb 1, 2007 14:05:52 GMT -5
Post by Hachelen on Feb 1, 2007 14:05:52 GMT -5
Hecate said:
Clarification: are we speaking here of being an empath, or the ability to empathise or to feel with?
While the two are related they are far from the same thing.
I agree most people do it to some degree, but being an empath is not always a gift. When it exists to a great degree one cannot fail but to feel others emotions, it can be quite overwhelming, and take a considerable time to learn how to know the feelings without being swamped by them.
Having said that I do wonder what it must be like not to be 'gifted' with this. I think I'm happier with it, even though it does make life quite an intense experience.
Quote: Anger is a weakness -- not a strength
I wouldn't agree with that. Anger is a feeling. What we do with it makes it either a strength or a weakness. It's actually an agent of change. One rarely sees this, more frustrated rage, which is a manifestation of helplessness rather than of anger.
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Empathy
Feb 1, 2007 14:06:18 GMT -5
Post by Hachelen on Feb 1, 2007 14:06:18 GMT -5
Icarus said:
Anger, to me anyway, has been very helpful. If I channel it in the right way, I can do much more than if I just let it alone. It is my catalyst sometimes, but I do not let it control my actions.
And Hecate, you are right. Empathic abilities are sometimes a curse. Until I learned how to use the ability and to "detach" from others, it was hard going. I would feel sad for no reason, or other feelings would surface for no reason. I have found that the use of the "Raku" helps. Some might argue here, but I personally use it when in the presence of someone that is "spilling" out all over the place. It helps me to listen, understand, and if asked, offer advice without the distraction of the emotions getting involved.
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Empathy
Feb 1, 2007 14:06:50 GMT -5
Post by Hachelen on Feb 1, 2007 14:06:50 GMT -5
Jinsei said:
I remember once, I was playing a game of darts and was doing fairly bad. I finally got very angry at my losing streak and it was channeled into that dart throw. Not only did I hit the bullseye, but I knocked the red cork clear through the dartboard.
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Empathy
Feb 1, 2007 14:07:20 GMT -5
Post by Hachelen on Feb 1, 2007 14:07:20 GMT -5
Hecate said:
Quote: I remember once, I was playing a game of darts and was doing fairly bad. I finally got very angry at my losing streak and it was channeled into that dart throw. Not only did I hit the bullseye, but I knocked the red cork clear through the dartboard.
Great example! It's energy, and channelled it can move mountains (or liitle red corks ). To me all the emotions operate and are for this purpose. Whether we turn them inwards to transform ourselves or outwards to have an impact on the world, how we utilise them, flow with them, learn to understand them and their purpose or resist them can have a huge impact on how much we blend with the Source and fulfill our true purpose.
I think it's only when we are at the mercy of our emotions, that they are in the driving seat, when things go wrong.
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Empathy
Feb 1, 2007 14:07:52 GMT -5
Post by Hachelen on Feb 1, 2007 14:07:52 GMT -5
LDS_Jedi said:
What I am seeing here are people offering examples of how they used their anger to a positive result. You cannot do that if you have allowed anger to take over.
Anger is a weakness when a Father allows himself to hit a child rather than talk, Anger is a weakness when a person allows it to build a grudge towards another person. Anger is a destructive emotion and I would think that although fleeting moments of anger controlled into a positive outcome are possible, to base oneself from it and not strive for self-control and an inner calm which allows for reasoning, is a very chaotic choice.
One thing that I have found admirable time and again within Jedi I have known and worked with is the ability to keep calm in situations that the average person would have fallen to anger. That said, I have seen these same Jedi become frustrated and anger arise in them, and I have seen them evoke an inner calm that allowed them to use the build up of energy towards a positive outcome.
Please do not confuse the weakness of anger with the strength of reason. In the examples given - Anger as a catalyst - Anger used to gain a bullseye - both are still in enough control and of sound reason that they could focus on a positive outcome. The weakness of anger wouldn't allow for a catalyst to change (cleaning your home for example) it would lead to insult and hurtfulness toward anyone whom chose to interrupt. A weakness of anger would have the dart on the floor and a fight or a brawl with the persons watching and jesting at failure to achieve one's goal.
I could be wrong on this.. that is true, but I offer this from my own experience.
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Empathy
Feb 1, 2007 14:08:17 GMT -5
Post by Hachelen on Feb 1, 2007 14:08:17 GMT -5
Icarus said:
Did someone say Darts???
I challenge you Korak!
I didn't know how to play darts until four years ago. My best friend and her husband were teaching me. I was so frustrated because I couldn't hit anything except the wall.
Then, my friend said, "Focus. Send the energy through the dart."
I got a Triple 17 on the next throw.
My kids now know how to play darts. I think that this simple "game" can be used to teach channeling of energy, focus, and determination.
And LDS, you are right. If you let it control you, then any emotion can be destructive and a weakness. But, if you channel that energy into something constructive, then it makes whatever objective that you are going for that much better-and easier to obtain.
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