A recent study at Stanford University showed that a 40% decline in EMPATHY in our young people over the last two decades, with the most precipitous decline in the last 10 years. With a limited amount of EMPATHY, it is difficult for someone to give or receive a GIFT of KNOWLEDGE from another.
KNOWLEDGE is a GIFT, realizing this we must share that GIFT and pass it forward. As Joseph Marshall III has said; “THE TRACKS WE LEAVE ON THE LAND WILL DISAPPEAR OVER TIME. THE TRACKS WE LEAVE IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OTHERS WILL NEVER FADE.”
If EMPATHY is at a record low, it will be difficult for people to find each other to collaborate. There has to be a connection with no expectation of something in return. With EMPATHY collaboration is possible. Marshall III has said; “BE LIKE THE BOW AND ARROW. THE REALITY OF THE BOW AND ARROW IS THAT ONE CANNOT BE FULFILLED WITHOUT THE OTHER. EACH GIVES PURPOSE TO THE OTHER.”
WE have to become more HUMAN again. We have to eliminate our PROSPECTIVE BIAS and demonstrate EMPATHY to all. We have to ENTER INTO THE FEELINGS, AND THOUGHTS OF OTHERS THROUGH EMPATHY. The culture we are in is a digital one. That is a culture that makes one have difficulty to demonstrate EMPATHY.
LET’S ALL MAKE THE EFFORT TO LEAVE OUR TRACKS IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OTHERS. THE RETURN WILL BRING A FEELING OF FULFILLMENT TO ALL INVOLVED. ALL IT TAKES IS TO LISTEN AND SHARE.
Categories: PERSPECTIVES Philosophical Perspective
ron winnegrad
Ron Winnegrad has been a Perfumer and teacher for 46 years. As a perfumer, Ron has been able to express the world he sees through a rainbow of olfactive and emotive visions. As a teacher, Ron has helped others to see fragrance through his own multi sensorial lens.
A Perfume Whisperer 
Well said. We must all listen and share and teach our children the same. Having empathy is an integral part of being a good human. It scares me to think it’s declined so much. We have to do better for our kids. 💜
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I’ve delayed commenting on Ron’s post because I’m not sure why there had been a reduction in empathy. I often thought that people were born with certain characteristics that were nurtured, or neglected as they aged. To hear the loss of people being empathetic is quite disturbing me, and in looking at global Issues of lack of freedom, of humanitarian support, and our own political issues, I wonder “ where and when did we go wrong “.
Decent parents take exceptional care in teaching their children to be kind, to share their toys with others, to take care of their siblings and be polite; but what happens to us when we are constantly bombarded by powerful people who show little or no compassion,EMPATHY, or open mindedness with other people’s challenges.
One has to ask, how do you encourage EMPATHY, which to me is one of the most important virtues, next to RESPECT, not only to the young people, but to the aging.
Important topic Ron, and thanks
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