4 Tips For Talking With Both Honesty And Empathy
Talking with both honesty and empathy is not easy. Honesty is a fundamental value when it comes to other people. No one likes to discover that they have been deceived or betrayed. This inevitably leads to a loss of trust in the person who lied.
When it comes to honesty, not everything is okay, especially when you consider that the feelings of others are at stake. So honesty and empathy are two concepts that must go hand in hand.
In today’s society, individualism, competition and a misunderstood idea of independence are important. Because of this, people sometimes assume that honesty is always the best way to go, but they forget the consequences their words can have for others. So how can you be honest and empathetic at the same time? This is how.
What is honesty?
Honesty is the ability to adjust your thoughts, words and actions. In this way you express what you think is true, and at the same time act in accordance with what you think and say. Honesty does not allow for lies, untruths or secrets. Nor does it allow for empty words or unfulfilled promises.
An honest person is genuine and true, and expresses this truth, even if the consequences may not be favorable to them. It is a personal value that is closely linked to integrity, and respect for both yourself and others.
What is empathy?
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes so that you can understand their thought process and identify the feelings they are experiencing. Being empathetic means assessing the inner emotional world of others, and making an effort to go beyond yourself for a moment to try to understand their point of view.
An empathetic person does not judge, lie, or humiliate because they understand how these actions can affect the other person. And by taking a moment to feel the pain as their own, they choose the path of understanding, rhythm and human warmth.
How are these values related?
Although at first glance it may seem that honesty and empathy have little in common, the reality is that they are both important in everyday life. In other words, one of them without the other can have negative consequences.
For example , excessive empathy can lead you to lie to avoid hurting others, what are called “white lies”. While this can avoid conflict in the short term, it can end up creating guilt and causing the feeling of having been let down by the other person when they discover a lack of honesty.
On the other hand, sincerity without empathy does not work either. If you are direct and sincere without considering the emotional aspect, others may perceive you as brusque, rude or tactless. As a result, you may experience social rejection or interpersonal conflicts.
4 tips for talking with both honesty and empathy
To be clear, honesty and empathy must go hand in hand if you want to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships. However, it is not always easy to use these two concepts together; here we will share some tips to help you.
1. Respect others
When communicating with other people, remember that respect is fundamental. Respecting others means believing that they deserve to know the truth, and that you should therefore be honest with them. But it also means paying attention to their feelings, since no one intentionally hurts a person they respect.
2. Work on your self-assertion
Self-assertive communication is important. Sometimes the fear of being rejected or of others rejecting your opinion can make you lie to try to please. For the same reason, you need to work on your self-confidence and learn to express yourself assertively.
In the same way, if you let aggression take over and you fail to control your impulses, you can easily hurt other people with your words. Remember that you do not have to downplay the other’s point of view to assert your own.
Use constructive language
If you have to communicate unpleasant information to another person, it is best to use constructive language. What does this mean? Choosing the right words and proposing solutions instead of criticizing or judging.
4. Pay attention to your non-verbal communication
Non-verbal communication is even more important than words when it comes to delivering a message. Aspects such as the tone of voice, body language or the time and place you choose to communicate an idea can make a difference. Remember to pay attention to these things so that the other person does not feel attacked or threatened.
Talking with both honesty and empathy can help your well-being
Our values define us as human beings, and we show them through our actions and interactions with others. Practicing honesty and empathy in daily life may require effort in the beginning, but in the long run it leads to better personal and social well-being.
