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Empathy: an “Attractive” Quality That Boosts Your Influence

Here are 5 Ways Improve This Relationship Enhancing Skill

Empathy attracts peopleA secret desire for virtually every human being on this planet is to be seen as attractive by others. I’m not just talking about physical appearance, either.

Attractive [uh-trak-tiv]: A pleasing quality that draws people toward it.

We’d all love for others to be drawn to us like a magnet, to seek us out, to want to be with us, to hang on our words, laugh at our jokes… at least by the people we want to be with.

Can you relate?

We go to great lengths in a number of ways to accomplish this:

  • Outer bodies: Botox, implants, makeup, personal grooming, working out, dieting, getting our hair/clothes just right, etc.
  • Achievement: Leading to status, fame, or wealth (which attracts people)
  • Personalities: People pleasing, being what we think others want us to be (chameleon syndrome) so they like us more.

What is usually overlooked are attractive qualities that radiate from the inside out. These character qualities can draw people toward us… or repel them from us.

Empathy is a powerful inner quality that can help you be a magnet that draws people toward you… and increases their desire to be in your orbit.

“If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from his angle as well as your own. ” – Henry Ford

Thankfully, this undervalued people skill can be increased in your life… opening many new doors to a meaningful life with tremendous impact.

Read on to learn 5 ways to improve your empathy skills… and 5 things NOT to do that you might think are helpful (trust me, they aren’t).

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Easier Goal Attainment: Try This Peak-End Technique

Tap Into This Little Known Quirk in Your Perceptions

Imagine you are a caveman, and you are
working really hard dragging a sled of
supplies uphill to your cave. You look over at your neighbor and he too is working to get supplies uphill to his cave.

… but he has wheels on his cart.

Sometimes, there is an easier way to accomplish your goals. The surprising news from research is that due to a quirk in human perception, you can “put wheels” on your efforts to make real progress toward your goals.

Using the technique I am about to share with you, one person said, “I found it surprising that I could do [what I struggled to do previously, but this time] without a tremendous amount of effort or commitment.”

In their fascinating book, The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact, Chip and Dan Health show us (among many other things) how we can alter and then leverage our experiences to see greater progress toward our goals.

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Perception vs. Reality: The Paradox in Modern Times

Why Things Can Seem One Way… Despite the Facts

Negative perception of reality “You must become more aware of how you see,
not just what you see.”
– Michael Kimmelman

“What you perceive depends a good deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are.”
– C.S. Lewis

Reality, and your perceptions of reality are often two different things.

You are wise to recognize that sometimes your perceptions can’t be trusted, and must be examined… even challenged.

This was pointed out recently by Professor Steven Pinker in an article for Time Magazine. He noted that according to actual measurable statistics about life in the 21st century, people overall are…

  • Living longer
  • Healthier
  • Better fed
  • Richer
  • Safer

… than ever before.

Those are the undeniable facts.

Yet, the average person’s opinion of the state of the world is much more pessimistic and worried.

What’s going on here? Why are people drawing conclusions that are the exact opposite of the facts?

I’m glad you asked. There is a phenomenon going on that you must understand and address in your life if you are going to experience a better, more hopeful life (that is rooted in reality).

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Optimum Decision Making: The Best, Worst Times to Decide

Plus - 3 things you can do today to optimize your abilities

A close up of a clock Description generated with high confidence“I want to make the best, most
optimum decisions because better
decisions will lead to a better life.”

I applaud that desire. It is a core message of this website.

Unfortunately, optimum decision making in a given situation depends on a number of factors… all of which can derail your best intentions.

Fortunately, there is one small factor that can quickly and easily be leveraged to improve your decision making.

“Small hinges can swing big doors.”

If you take this factor into consideration in your daily decision making, you WILL see better outcomes. If you don’t, well… all your good intentions will not be enough to overcome the results.

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Intellectual Humility: a Rare Yet Powerful Trait to Have

Research reveals how cultivating this trait can unlock greater success

Do you desire/aspire to become a person that others are attracted to?

Do you want people to admire and respect you more (especially by the people that really matter)?

Then, you need an influential character trait that is in short supply these days. In fact, its disappearance in many societies is creating all sorts of problems… and is getting worse.

  • Hindering personal growth
  • Ruining interpersonal relationships
  • Reducing innovation/progress
  • Limiting our ability to solve major problems

What’s ironic is that the lack of this trait allows a poison cloud to develop that no one likes experiencing… but everyone still uses when it serves them.

The trait is called intellectual humility… and very few have it these days.

BTW- if you already think you know what it is (and are tempted to skip reading further), that is evidence you don’t possess it.

Here’s what I can promise you… If you can grow in this trait, you can accelerate your personal growth/success. Plus, you will dramatically improve both your relationships and your influence in this world.

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One Way Positive Thinking Can Screw Up Your Life

Avoid the Danger by Using This Astronaut Tested Approach

A positive outlook toward your future and your life has many well documented benefits:

  • Lower stress and depression levels.
  • Greater resilience to hardships.
  • Better health, longer life, and more energy.
  • Better relationships.
  • An overall higher sense of well-being.

But a positive attitude isn’t all sunshine and unicorns.

Having a positive outlook also has a rarely mentioned dark side. In certain situations, positivity can lead to unnecessary hardships, misery and frustrations.

The good news is that not only can you negate this potential downside, you can actually leverage this negative dimension to experience greater success in what you are doing.

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Two Powerful Words That Can Change Your World

Research verifies 31+ benefits to people's lives

Miracle benefits

Sometimes “little hinges swing big doors” in your life. They can have a disproportionately beneficial impact, considering how inconsequential they seem.

One scientifically verified example is found in the regular use of two simple words: Thank You.

As author Max Lucado reminds us–

Two essential words deserve special attention–  “Thank you”

Gratitude is a mindful awareness of the benefits of life. It is the greatest of virtues.

Studies link it with a variety of positive effects. Grateful people tend to be– (more…)

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Improve Your Memory: Try This Quick Technique

Research Reveals It Can Boost Memory by 20%

 “I always have trouble remembering three things: faces, names, and uh –I can’t remember what the third thing is” – Fred Allen

“I have always had a bad memory… as far back as I can remember.” -Lewis Thomas

Let’s be honest… everyone wishes they had a better memory, especially when trying to recall an important item.

You know how that works: You know the information is in your brain… somewhere. You just can’t locate it when you really need it.

Here’s the question: Is there a way to quickly improve your long-term memory… especially before you need it?

Research has uncovered a surprising way to boost your long-term memory by up to 20%. Better still, it only takes a few minutes to improve your results. (more…)

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Freedom to Choose: 4 Ways to Make Better Choices

How to increase your ability to choose better options

“I didn’t have to choose the way I did. I just couldn’t help myself.”

Something strange and irrational often goes on in the human heart. See if this rings a bell for you.

At certain times you seem to have freedom to make choices that you are proud of—

  • I am going to stick to my diet this time (I have a very strong desire to do this).
  • I will pay down my debt and/or save money (I am committed and motivated to do this).
  • I’m done with pornography (the thought of going down that path again disgusts me).
  • I am going to work on and finish this project (this is something I really want to complete)

But at other times it seems like you are being pulled, almost compelled to choose a lesser option.  A feeling comes over you: I really WANT TO do this other option right now (even when it undermines the better option you say you want).

Sadly, it’s not the one you really want (when you are thinking straight).

“I didn’t have to choose it. I just couldn’t help myself.”

Sounds familiar?

How can you have MORE freedom to choose the wisest, best options… at those times when it feels like you are being compelled to choose the lesser option?

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Stress Relief: Try This Smart [Research-Backed] Trick

Offload The Worry That Is Secretly Draining You.

Being anxious

When you feel stress about performing an upcoming task, how can you find stress relief by reducing your anxiety levels?

Here’s why this is crucial: If you don’t reduce your anxiety, it will almost certainly impact your performance… potentially leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy – things didn’t turn out well, just like you were worried about in the first place.

Researchers at Michigan State University discovered a simple technique that measurably reduces your anxiety levels, allowing you to perform without the crippling effects of the anxiety.

I believe this technique has broader application for the anxiety and stress you face in your life (not just for an upcoming task).

I use it every day, and I can attest to its power to release much of the anxiety you unnecessarily carry around with yourself.

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