Ironically, empathy and change are more closely related than most people think.
Empathy and change might seem to be opposites, but the secret of empathy is that it is what most people need in order to be ready to change.
Resistance operates a lot like Newton’s Third Law of Physics. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. What it means is that forces come in pairs. It may not seem like it, but if you push against a wall, the wall is pushing back. It’s usually the same with resistance.
If you push someone to do something, they’ll almost always push back. That’s just the nature of resistance. If you try to make them change, they will try just as hard not to change. Equal and opposite reactions.
Ironically, empathy is actually what most people need to initiate change. Mostly what people want is for someone to understand them without trying to judge or change it. When you stop pushing and pulling and instead offer acceptance, you allow them to decide when and where to go.
Being seen for who you are and accepted for where you are is such a powerful human need that when it happens, we are freed from justifying ourselves. We stop demanding to be noticed. This is where emotional growth and gratitude begins.
Ironically, that in and of itself, is exactly what people need to free up their energy to change.
This post is part of my Gratitude Project 2025: The Magic of Empathy — a 30-day exploration of empathy and gratitude. Visit the hub to follow along or catch up on past reflections.
If you’d like to explore the science behind gratitude, visit the Greater Good Science Center’s Gratitude Resources.
