I was prompted to ask the question today, What if that were me? This is a good question to embed in your life, a good question to ask before you act in any situation. This is the question that builds empathy, the kind of empathy that helps you to help others.
What if that were me?
How would I act? What would I feel? Where would I go? Who would I reach out to?
While these questions build empathy and sensitize us, we also have to realize that we can never fully step into another person's shoes as each of us has a unique experience of life, no two people no matter how closely related will experience life exactly the same. This is why we have to leave room for listening, observing, surprise, and growth.
Onward.