Friends show empathy with friends.

Friendship: Friends show empathy.

Reciprocal confidences deepen any relationship. Ideally those confidences are received with empathy. Empathy is identifying with another's feelings. It is seeing life through his/her eyes.

How can you communicate empathy?

Listen with empathy. Lean closer to your friend and frown, smile, or cry appropriately.
Touching your friend also shows empathy.
By your physical presence and/or the gift of your time. At times just sitting with someone communicates empathy.
By your body language and facial expressions.
By your words. Say directly, "That hurts me," or "I'm happy for you."
Paraphrasing often shows that you are in touch with your friend's feelings.
Your tone of voice is as important as the words you use. A sad tone is slow and quiet. A happy tone is faster and louder.

If you felt certain of a caring, empathetic response to a confidence, you would rarely hesitate to confide. However, when you are not certain of the response, you may find yourself teetering on the brink of intimate disclosures:

"Should I risk saying this or not?"

"Should I reveal this part of myself?"

"Can I trust my friend not to use my disclosure to hurt me in the future?"

*CyberParent Recommended Reading for More Information:*
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Copyright � 1997-2006 CyberParent. All rights reserved.

Note: The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of CyberParent. They are not intended to take the place of advice of a health professional whose advice you might need to seek.

Friend-Friendship Directory.	Friendship Defined.
Building Friendships.	What Is Friendship?
Conversations with Friends.	Toxic Friends-Friendships.
Maintaining Friendships.	Friendships Do End.
Friends and Manipulation.	Friendship is comfortable.
Losing a Friend.	12 Steps to Grow a Friend.
People Equal Friends.	Friends Equal Talk .
Friends Acknowledge Friends.	Friends Listen to Friends.
Friends Attend to Friends.	Friends Show Empathy.
Friends Touch.	Friends Praise Friends.
Friends Are Loyal.	Friends Are Equal.
Friends Reveal Feelings.	Friends Do Not Mind Read.
Friends Don't Manipulate Friends.	Setting Limits in Friendships.
Review The Friendship Factor.	Review When Friendship Hurts.
Review The Friendship Crisis.

Friends

Joy Stevens