Empathetic Reflection

00:05 When we think about empathetic reflection, especially in considering some of those definitions that could be triggering, we want to think about a couple of things.

00:15 So what if you're getting differing perspectives from people within the same affinity groups, and you're in the middle? How do you reflect upon and respond to that? One thing I want to encourage is that with empathetic reflection, we don't want to discount anybody else's perspective.

00:34 The beauty of all this work, especially in applying cultural intelligence, is to be open to difference and that includes different perspectives than thought processes, because all of our perspectives are based on our lived experiences, which include cultural influences.

00:52 Also, what if, what if conversations become contentious and heated because you have polar opposite thinking, polar opposite lived experiences, different beliefs when it comes to race, racism, discrimination, oppression, especially when we talk about structural racism? Well, that's gonna happen.

01:13 So the what if is already out there.

01:15 But if you have conversations, the key to that is openness, and having those conversations in respectful ways, agreeing to disagree, and just being empathetic, and trying to put yourself in someone else's shoes.

01:29 And the key word in that is empathy, and reflecting.

01:33 So sometimes you may not be able to complete those conversations in that dialogue in the moment, but maybe make a verbal agreement with the person or persons in this say, "Let's reflect on this and revisit it." Because sometimes, I know for me for sure, when I have the opportunity to reflect my perspective might change, but I definitely become more open to a conversation because as human beings oftentimes when we're in the heat of the moment we say things, right.

02:01 We think things that, if we have time to reflect then it might change.

02:06 So, it's okay to give some space and some time to have that reflective period and then come back to the conversations.

02:13 But the key is not sweeping it under the rug, it's to continue to do the work even when the work gets hard.