This is a test.

Watch the following two minute video clip and decide which person you sympathize with the most. (If a video screen does not appear below, click here). As you watch it, put aside our all-too-common stereotypes and realize that this exchange could take place just as easily with the genders reversed.

Debrief:

If you’re a “let’s fix this problem as fast as possible” person (whether male or female), you probably sympathized with the man in this clip … and think that the woman needs to get past her emotions and just pull the nail out of her head.

If you’re a “I’d like someone to understand how I’m feeling” person (whether male or female), you probably sympathized with the woman … and think the man needs to learn how to stop fixing everything and develop some empathy.

If either of these descriptions fits you, you almost missed a valuable learning opportunity.

Yes, it’s easy to identify with a person who is like you, and to see the flaws in those who are unlike you. But if that’s all you ever do, you’ll only ingrain your inclination to be a “fixer” or a “feeler,” and develop a more critical spirit toward those who are different.

Watch and Grow

Instead of perpetuating your narrow inclinations, use this clip to improve your other-awareness, which is your ability to understand and empathize with the experiences, emotions and needs of others.

Watch the clip again and pretend that the problem is not as ridiculously obvious as a nail in the head. Imagine instead that the woman has an extremely difficult and painful relationship with her mother, or sister or boss. Imagine also that she may be contributing to her problems through her own critical attitude, sharp tongue or insensitivity.

Now, if you’re a fixer, imagine how helpful the man would be if he said, “Listen, all you need to do is stop being so critical (or sharp-tongued or insensitive) yourself.”

How do you think that is going to sound to her ears? It may be partly true, but unless he first listens to her and shows that he has some understanding of what she is experiencing, his words will sound simplistic, callous and even judgmental.

If you’re a feeler, imagine how the man is processing this conversation. He’s being deluged with waves of intense and unpleasant emotions. That is not fun. He sees some ways to begin alleviating some of the woman’s pain, and he wants to help her as quickly as he can, largely because he cares for her and hates to see her suffer.

The point is, there may be some legitimacy in each person’s perspective, as well as some blind spots.

Each of them – and you and me in similar situations – would benefit by taking a deep breath, praying for patience and grace, and asking ourselves questions like these:

• “How is she (or he) feeling right now?”
• “What is he (or she) trying to tell me?”
• “How can I show that I understand and care?”
• “How can I best serve him (or her) in the next ten minutes?”
• “What would she (or he) most appreciate from me right now?”

It’s not rocket science. It’s relationship.

It’s caring enough to slow down, see life through other people’s eyes, and look out for their interests as well as your own (Phil. 2:3-4).

– Ken Sande

Permission to distribute: Please feel free to download, print, or electronically share this message in its entirety for non-commercial purposes with as many people as you like.

© 2013 Ken Sande

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