Without humble empathy, there is no courage.

Choosing and practicing empathy doesn’t mean we baby, placate, fix, or make excuses for others.

Empathy is sitting beside people with their difficulty and their pain, holding space with care to seek to understand.

It is here the ground is level, and the space is created to move through whatever is going on together.

When we baby, placate, fix, or make excuses for someone in struggle, often we only send them out the door enabling them to stay stuck.

Empathy allows us to hold people accountable for their work, responsibilities, and change in a way that holds our common humanity above shame, judgment, criticism, and our own stuff.

When we choose the skill set of empathy, we walk through life together and send them out the door empowered to make real change.

Without humble empathy, there is no courage.