When a person stands on the sidewalk, staring into space with pain in their eyes, people walk on by as though they are an obstacle rather than a human being. Our society today lacks the empathy that enables us to treat people like people. It truly makes me wonder why? Where did we go wrong with the world? News flash: empathy is NOT overrated and people really are just. that. cruel. 

First of all, it is important to understand the difference between sympathy and empathy. Sympathy is simply acknowledging others’ hardship and providing them comfort. Empathy is not only acknowledging but also understanding how another person feels, often putting yourself in their shoes. Then you have compassion, which includes the desire to actually help someone. Most people today stop to acknowledge that other people are struggling, but don’t take it a step further. 

There are many reasons for the decline of empathy in today’s society, including the increase of technology and social media and increasing political polarization. People today feel so comfortable with calling each other names and ruining their image and confidence. 

A major example of this is with the Black Lives Matter protests. The protests shed light on the extreme police brutality in the country, particularly towards black Americans. However, many times I have heard the words: “Well, white people are being killed by the police too.” People failed to think about what others have gone through, especially throughout history, as we now live in a more narcissistic society. Rather than ignoring or degrading the struggles of others, we should be focusing on creating a safe and positive environment for all human beings in America, not just the straight white ones.

Social media has also not helped the situation. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter allow people to hide behind a screen and attack others for what they do or who they are. However, they don’t ever face the consequences personally because they can remain anonymous. Social media often only presents the best parts of an individual’s life, which can also affect how people view them and empathize with them. There is also less face-to-face interaction, which means people have fewer opportunities to actually be empathetic. 

Although it is frustrating to see people treat others with such hostility and cruelty, it isn’t a set-in-stone behavior. We, as a society, especially as the younger generations, can work together to change the norms and create a more empathetic world. In a recent podcast, Dr. Anna Konrath said, “We have to want to, it has to be important to us. The motivation really matters.” The biggest way to change is to think before you act. It may seem simple, but so many people fail to do so. Before lashing out, stop to consider what a person may be going through. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand why they might be acting the way that they are. From there you could offer help or let them off of the hook. Another key change we need to make is implementing the Golden Rule. By treating others the way we want to be treated, we can set off a domino effect of kindness and empathy. It really shouldn’t be that hard to be kind. Even if you find it difficult to be nice to people, you still have the opportunity to just stop talking. If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all. 

So, as we head into the New Year, I challenge you to be more aware of how you are being empathetic towards others. Remember, it isn’t as hard as it sounds.