Most of us crave friendships where we can spend time with people who will share thoughts and feelings back and forth. Jim Rohn famously said, “We’re the average of the five people you spent the most time with.” This illustrates the fact that we are greatly influenced by our friendships, which can be a good thing if we choose our friends wisely. But what happens to a person with Empathy Dysfunction (EmD) who doesn’t have any friends?They’re left battling the world alone. Not only does it make their life harder. It makes the lives of those they come in contact with harder too. Here are some of the traits of a person with EmD…
- They have little or no talent for generosity.
- They haven’t learned to see the world through another’s eyes.
- They have mercurial moods and give into whims at the drop of the hat.
- Narcissism and paranoia are rampant.
- What they call “friends” are just people they tolerate or use when convenient.
- They can’t tolerate rivalry or anything that challenges their position.
- They’re suspicious and vain.
- Compassion and compromise aren’t in their dictionaries.
- There is no give. It’s always on their terms.
I know it goes against everything we’ve been taught about manners to call people out. You might even think I’m being mean. However, it’s imperative that everyone becomes aware of the growing number of brain disorders that contribute to Empathy Dysfunction. EmD is so common, in fact, it’s no longer if, but when, you will meet someone with EmD.
High IQ, artistically gifted, natural athletic ability, or psychological diagnosis as healthy—none of these characteristics exempt people from having Empathy Dysfunction (EmD). It’s my belief that once you understand how empathy works and how it can become dysfunctional, you’ll have a better handle on navigating life.
Protecting yourself from EmDs requires two vital skills. First, as soon as you suspect or identify EmD in a person, disengage as soon as you can. Second, cultivate your own empathy, so that you operate at the highest level, EmD-5.
I’ll show you how to protect yourself and cultivate greater empathy in my book, When Empathy Fails – How to stop those hell-bent on destroying you. The first chapter, “No One Calls Me Mom Anymore” is now available for free download. After you read it, I’d love it if you’d visit my Facebook page and tell me what you think.
