The Vanishing Superpower: Why Empathy Still Matters in a Self-Centred World 🌍

Remember when neighbors borrowed sugar, not Wi-Fi passwords? When people asked “How are you?” and actually waited for the answer? Somewhere between urgent emails and Insta reels, we misplaced something precious — empathy, the ability to truly understand and feel what another person is going through.

Today, we live in a world where everyone’s sprinting — not toward others, but toward their own goals, likes, and deadlines. Our calendars are full, but our hearts are often… well, on silent mode.

“We are becoming experts in communication, yet amateurs in connection.”

Empathy doesn’t just mean saying “I understand.” It’s about pausing your own story long enough to listen to someone else’s. It’s about sitting beside a colleague who’s quietly struggling, instead of forwarding another “You got this!” motivational meme. It’s noticing the tired cashier’s smile, the friend who’s withdrawn, the child whose tantrum might actually be an unspoken plea for attention.

And yes, empathy in today’s world can be hard. Who has time to feel when there are emails to send, groceries to order, and Netflix shows to binge? But here’s the irony — in chasing efficiency, we’ve made relationships emotionally inefficient.

“Empathy is not time-consuming; indifference is. Because what you ignore today, you’ll have to fix tomorrow.”

Let’s be honest — sometimes we confuse being right with being kind. We love debating, proving, correcting… but rarely understanding. It’s almost as if empathy has become an outdated app — everyone talks about it, no one updates it.

Imagine a world where bosses cared as much about employees’ mental health as they do about quarterly targets. Where parents listened without jumping to solutions. Where social media was used not to boast, but to build bridges.

“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another.” — Alfred Adler

Even small doses of empathy can change the entire tone of our day. It’s the silent glue that holds families, friendships, and societies together. Without it, we’re just a crowd of busy strangers sharing the same planet but not the same pulse.

So, before you scroll past, rush off, or react hastily — pause. Listen. Feel.

Because someday, you’ll need that same empathy you refused to give.

“One kind word can warm three winter months.” — Japanese Proverb

💭 Thought to Ponder:
In a world racing for success, what’s the point of reaching the top if there’s no one left who understands how you feel when you get there?