Psychological Safety

when in doubt try empathy for My Gratitude Project

Gratitude and Empathy: My Tools for Healing | My Gratitude Project Day 28

For me, gratitude and empathy aren’t just professional skills, but deeply personal ones. In my experience, they are closely related. When everything feels like it’s crashing down and problems seem to be everywhere, these are the tools I turn to. I myself have had dark times, days when tears wouldn’t stop, when darkness was everywhere, and I felt broken and lost. The reasons don’t matter anymore. At that time in my life, I turned to mindfulness and meditation to bring…

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Do a favor, give a gift, empathize, be grateful for My Gratitude Project

Why Some People Struggle with Empathy | My Gratitude Project Day 24

When an office has a difficult employee, leaders come to me asking why some people lack empathy. It is common to believe that some people simply lack empathy. I understand why some people believe this, even though every human brain (and many animal brains) have mirror neurons in our brains that hardwire us for empathy. So, why do some people seem incapable of understanding others? I’m not qualified to discuss the effects on empathy of neurodiversity conditions like autism, narcissism…

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Empathy validation compassion for My Gratitude Project

Healing with Empathy: When Listening Opens the Door | My Gratitude Project Day 22

Even in the toughest moments, healing with empathy can open a door. Recently, I counseled a client to try healing with empathy. For confidentiality, I won’t go into details, only to say that she wanted to repair a badly broken relationship. It wasn’t her fault. The whole situation was difficult and messy, involving trauma, addiction, blaming, half-truths, and bald-faced lies. It was not going to be easy, and she understood that, but it was her best shot if there was…

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empathy is non judgment for my gratitude project

Empathy in Coaching: A Story of Healing and Growth | My Gratitude Project Day 20

Personally, I use empathy in coaching daily. I’ve found empathy in coaching helps the little problems and the little ones. I had a client not too long ago who needed a lot of empathy. When our first session opened, she was in tears. She was managing a complex project with many delays and difficulties, and the process had turned toxic. Professional norms had broken down, and it had become normal to yell and scream and blame throughout meetings. I thought…

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Do a favor, give a gift, empathize, be grateful for My Gratitude Project

Conflict and Empathy: The Key to Real Change | My Gratitude Project Day 19

Conflict and empathy: usually empathy is more effective. If you’re gearing up for conflict and empathy crosses you mind, what should you do? Instead of conflict, try empathy. I know what you are thinking. If you want to fight, the last thing you want to do is empathize. So, ask yourself, do you want to fight or do you want results? Conflict comes from the head—from the need to be right or to stay in control. On the contrary, empathy…

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my gratitude project 2025 on the magic of empathy

Everyday Empathy: The Skill That Makes Life Easier | My Gratitude Project Day 12

When you practice everyday empathy, life gets easier. Everyday empathy isn’t just a feeling. It’s a skill to use daily.  My husband, Gary, is a master of empathy and it’s many uses. Years ago, flying home from visiting my relatives in Colorado for Christmas, we got stuck at the airport with our two young children, then about 5 and 7. We were supposed to fly out of a regional airport but when our plane was cancelled, Gary rented a car…

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Lisa D. Foster, Ph.D. ACC  is an independent coach. As an Associate Certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation, Lisa honors and abides by the ICF Code of Ethics.  All coaching sessions and consultations are confidential.

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