The Empathy Cloud Covers All

Where are the logical minds in today's society blinded by empathy.

Have you ever just thought about something from start to finish before even committing to it? Using your common sense and your brain to navigate complex issues and thoughts before acting on them. Are you a logical person? Someone who has deep thoughts and thinks out each step before committing?

There is a famous saying that goes a little like this: “Empathy Clouds Judgment.” It basically means that you aren’t thinking about everything when you are caught up in your feelings. When emotion takes over, it is very hard to actually think clearly. It’s like another part of your mind becomes active and you fly into near blindness.

Has that ever happened to you? Of course it has.

We all have had moments where we have said things from our hearts, our souls, and from pure emotion. It happens from time to time; we learn, we grow, and we come out of the fog and realize... maybe we went too far with our reactions and said things we really should of kept to ourselves.

It’s not hard for anyone to just ‘fly off the handle’ and go into a blind rage when something is said that upsets or triggers them. It happens. However, my point is that nowadays, when it comes to anything, any topics, subjects, opinions, or talking points people only seem to react emotionally also instantly.

Is there no logic inserted into conversations anymore? or is that a thing of the past now?

There’s no middle ground or search for the actual source of the problem. It is literally pure emotion and may I even add, toxic empathy that is blinding people to quite a lot of truth that is right in front of them.

So why has empathy seemed to absolutely take over the psyche of so many people, and where has the logical mind gone?

Nowadays, there seems to be a clear divide between quite a lot of things. Name a topic and I guarantee you’ll find a heated discussion about it where two things emerge: an emotional appeal and a logical one. Regardless of the topic, these two positions are already filled, and people are waiting in the wings to be tagged in and have they say.

I have noticed it quite a lot in my years of just being out with friends, family, and observing others as well. No matter how many people are in the group, whether it’s three, six, or eight-plus, any topic that is brought up reveals two sides: Short-term Empathy vs. Long-term Consequences.

It is always either about the “now” or the past, but never the future. You either have to feel in the moment or reflect on the past while discarding the future. Once you notice it, it’s very hard not to see it everywhere. Political, social, relational, and religious issues are just a few topics that split people into these two sides. There used to be very interesting back-and-forth conversations that you could have about these topics.

Nowadays, you’re checking to see if your head is still on your shoulders just for bringing one up. I find it amazing how people today are just so overly emotional when it comes to any topic, big or small even a meaningless subject(s). Everyone just goes from 10 to 100 in seconds, already barking because, God forbid, you used your logical side to come up with a solution and think for longer then five seconds.

It’s sad when this is the case and normal discussions turn into a heated debate. Are people allowed their opinions? Yes. Can people express them? Of course. But do they listen to the opposite view? Absolutely not!

How have things gotten so partisan? People used to say, “You’ll have to walk on eggshells around that topic.” Now, it’s just that the eggshells are on top of mines that are super fragile and waiting to be stepped on.

We need to get out of our heads. We need to place emotions aside and start to use logical thinking again. Things don’t seem so daunting once you actually think through the idea. Weigh your options and take small steps instead of diving headfirst, only to find you know nothing.

Taking caution and keeping an arm’s length from scenarios, topics, and conversational pieces is actually good for the soul.

Don’t know a topic? Don’t pretend you do. There is nothing worse then being caught in a firestorm of a conversation when you claim to know the topic but fall at the first hurdle. Don’t believe what others tell you and do independence studying and research yourself because you’ll be found out immediately.

And there nothing worse then being called out on something that you started because you saw red before seeing sense.

Know what you want, study what you can, and then allow your mind to come up with its own solutions.

Empathy seems to be the currency today of the online world, but there is only so much that can go around until the vault is empty and lad’s, those days are numbered.

There has to be a silver lining in the clouds somewhere in the distance because it seems a lot of people are lost in the cloud called empathy these days and it is clouding more then their judgement.

It’s has completely warped peoples minds and damaging more then just themselves but everyone and everything around them. We need to get out of our hearts and into our heads again.

The sooner we all take a breather, calm down those thoughts, people will hear each other again. Problems can be mended, bridges built and a middle ground can start to grow again. It just takes one person to start a line and others will follow behind suit.

That could be you.

Thank you for reading my article. I hope you enjoyed it. If you like my writing, please consider subscribing/following.

Slán Go Fóill

-Marc Sean

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