In many ways, empathy is the antidote to projecting—we do not need to share in others’ direct experience, we just need to imagine it. We can call upon our own experiences as a way to understand what others may be going through, but always keep the focus on the other person. Finding ways to personally relate—without making the conversation about us—allows us to better understand what is being said, not just at the surface level but also at the emotional level.
