06/03/2026
Have you ever been at a loss for words while sharing your knowledge in front of an audience of 150 people? I have!
On May 27, 2026, while facilitating a hybrid Introduction to the Cultivating Safe Spaces Framework workshop to an audience of Human Resources professionals and business owners, I was caught off-guard by a question about the connection between empathy and Patience (one of the four Conditions for Cultivating Safe Spaces - we encourage folks to be patient with themselves and others).
I hadn't considered the role of empathy while being patient with other people doing things differently from me or in their own time, before being asked this insightful question by Shulamit ber Levtov. With her background in mental health, she has a much deeper understanding of the human brain that I do, which contributes to her being a phenomenal therapist for entrepreneurs!
I admitted that I didn't have an answer, and asked the audience to share their thoughts on the link between empathy and patience. We had a lovely chat! Then I promised to respond more fully, here, after reflection.
I started my homework by trying to find a definition of empathy online. After coming up with a gazillion resources, I cracked open my ancient Oxford dictionary and found "Empathy. 1. The projection of one's own personality into personality of another in order to understand him better; ability to share in another's emotions or feelings"
And that's when I realized why I couldn't answer the question! I accept that others do things differently from me, without needing to understand why. Humans are infinitely diverse, and that makes life so much more intriguing and exciting than if we were all the same.
I appreciate folks with different gifts because they can help me in areas where I do not excel! I don't wonder why we are different.
All this to say, I still do not have a definitive answer on the connection between empathy and patience, other than empathy can help you be more patient.
I'm curious, what do you think about the connection between empathy and patience?
I'm grateful to Shamsa Hassan and Michelle Deschenes for the photos accompanying this post. Both entrepreneurs offer services to help your team improve their wellness. Check out their businesses!
I'm also grateful to Shulamit for asking the question, and to a bunch of other folks that I'll tag in a comment.
