How to be sensitive to people's emotions without caring what they think of you

[quiethumir]

I've been caring less about what other people think of me, but at the same time I want to be sensitive to their emotions when they are talking with me and be more empathetic. How can I achieve this?

[kcgolden]

When you find the key to being able to balance between the two - send it to me! I've been trying to figure this out for years.
You don't want to be a doormat, but you also don't want to be a jerk - am I reading that right?

[Canonymous]

Pretend you're talking to another version of yourself. Keep your eyes, ears and spirit open and take in everything the other person (or people) emanate(s); Whether it be sound, movement or energy.
You will have many things in common, and see that you truly are the same person, just being raised in a different scenario.

[quiethumir]

Originally Posted by kcgolden

When you find the key to being able to balance between the two - send it to me! I've been trying to figure this out for years.
You don't want to be a doormat, but you also don't want to be a jerk - am I reading that right?

Exactly right!

Originally Posted by Canonymous

Pretend you're talking to another version of yourself. Keep your eyes, ears and spirit open and take in everything the other person (or people) emanate(s); Whether it be sound, movement or energy.
You will have many things in common, and see that you truly are the same person, just being raised in a different scenario.

Thanks Canonymous. I will do this.

[ChristsLight]

Originally Posted by quiethumir

I've been caring less about what other people think of me, but at the same time I want to be sensitive to their emotions when they are talking with me and be more empathetic. How can I achieve this?

By completely having unconditional Love for yourself. It only bothers you because you believe them, or you already believe it about yourself.

[FlabRoshi]

You're fine as you are.

It's OK to care what people think of you, and it's OK if you aren't always sensitive to other people's emotions. You are human.

Unfortunately we live in a world where we occassionally tread on each other's toes, even with the best intentions.

Lots (all?) of these emotional problems are resolved by realising they aren't problems.

To look a bit more deeply at it:

What does it mean to care what people think of you? Isn't that actually paranoia that people are thinking badly about you?

Well, that paranoia is OK too. It's just your ego protecting itself.

p.s. you ask questions that are very interesting to me quiethumir

[Eduard E]

I equate understanding a person's emotions with empathy, and caring about them with sympathy. I think the key is to develop one without the other:

Empathy vs. Sympathy: The Big Distinction|People Skills Decoded

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by quiethumir

I've been caring less about what other people think of me, but at the same time I want to be sensitive to their emotions when they are talking with me and be more empathetic. How can I achieve this?

Maybe I am not understanding the question but I see these two things as separate and distinct.

Caring less about what other people think of you has nothing to do with being sensitive to their emotions.