Compassionate but with Caution
- Control your language and control your own emotions: Avoid taking personal criticism, inflammatory language, and emotionally charged words, such as “ashamed,” “embarrassed,” “humiliated,” “bad,” “ugly,” “weird,” “worried,” and “scum.” They are just words. Until you react. Then they become headlines.
- Instead, move to answer questions constructively and manage your emotional reaction by focusing on positive declarative responses.
- Compassion and empathy sometimes use Color (emotional) Words to emphasize that we understand the damage we’ve done, or that others have suffered, such as:
| Ashamed | Shocked |
| Concerned | Tragic |
| Disappointed | Unfortunate |
| Embarrased | Unhappy |
| Failed | Unintended |
| Humiliated | Unnecessary |
| Mortified | Unsatisfied |
| Regrettable |
CAUTION: Be very careful how and whether you express empathy.
Empathetic sentiments can cause negative reactions from victims. Be
ready for that.
Do constructive, positive, helpful actions and deeds they will speak
louder than words.
Remain quiet. Let someone else speak, or simply, let your empathetic
actions and deeds do the talking.
© Copyright 2023, James E. Lukaszewski. America’s Crisis Guru®
Get permission to reproduce or quote. Contact the copyright holder, jel@e911.com.
