“Empathy is Overrated” - Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks on Happiness

You can get happier. And getting there will be the adventure of a lifetime.
The Atlantic columnist and Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks offers a blueprint for a better life.
When times are good, this is easy to believe. But sometimes life’s hardships can feel like impossible barriers, making happiness seem out of reach. In these times, the only way to get happier is to wait and hope things get better. Right? Wrong.
A Professor at Harvard Business School specialising in happiness and leadership, Arthur Brooks share his insights into realising greater happiness, no matter how challenging your circumstances. Drawing upon the ideas in Build the Life You Want, his new book co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, he will offer not unrealistic promises of perfect bliss, but evidence-based tools to meet you wherever you are and make greater happiness a choice.

[@crabwalk7773]

So... He says, “Empathy is Overrated” ... while explaining that it is not the 'empathy; but what you do with/about it that he sees causing issues. Lacking clarity seems an issue with him.

[@Lori-lp6uc]

I believe in the value of empathy. However, if an empath is not careful, they could become an enabler. Once a person's self destructive thinking and behavior becomes habitual, they start to expect support and understanding from everyone in their life. Love CANNOT change a person. Narcissistic people have to understand the need to change themselves. They do this if they value the relationship with the person/persons who care about them and who want to help them. If a person has an addiction problem, they need to understand that they have the power to overcome their weaknesses. No one else can make them change. They need to focus on their strengths and accomplishments and not obsess over mistakes and weaknesses.

[@zeromonster3381]

I learned this the hard way.

[@Lori-lp6uc]

@@zeromonster3381 It's difficult to let go

[@cseguin]

Imho - we are a species of sociopaths with the ability to be selectively empathetic towards those we feel are worthy. There is no such thing as "altruism" and this whole empathy/sympathy thing is a minefield that I recommend no one tries to cross.

[@christopherpoon5158]

For that to be true, sociopathic behaviour would be the norm and not something that would be labelled as a disorder.

[@cseguin]

It _is_ the norm.@@christopherpoon5158

[@zeromonster3381]

I fear you might be right.