To be candid, I had fallen out of love with people

I had enough problems in my own life - I didn’t have time for yours.

But then I went to something a little over a year ago that changed my life. It was a turning point in my health journey. A 3 day event that I now volunteer at quarterly because of how much it impacted me. It improved health of my body, my mind and my spirit. It also improved my marriage, my parenting and showing up for my friends better. (reply to this email to ask me more about it or text me - (310) 879-8441.)

Most of us think that if people really knew me, they may not like me. But I have found that if I hear your sacred stories and how life has gone for you and I can feel those emotions - I will like you all the more because I empathize with you - it’s an emotion that bonds us as humans.

What was the weekend all about? Hearing people’s stories and sharing my own - the things in life that have wounded us or made us who we are today. We so often don’t realize that our environment is not safe to share our deepest desires and pain. For me, finding people I can be fully transparent with and fully honest with and know they may or may not agree with me but will still love me has been life changing!

If you find cynicism creeping up in your life or increasingly your button is pushed and you’re triggered for no real good reason - could it be that empathy is diminishing or nearly gone from your life?

A healthy lifestyle and good habits are keys to retaining a healthy mind and in particular a healthy prefrontal cortex so that you can still empathize with people.

Being able to share your emotions and handle the emotions of others as well as feel their emotions and be there for them - this is what really living is all about. Oh - and it seems to be a key ingredient in health and longevity.

Find people to surround yourself with that are safe to hear your stories and that you’re safe to hear theirs.

Here’s why you want more empathy in your life

• Reduces Stress and Improves Mental Health: Empathy helps alleviate stress and anxiety by fostering a sense of connection and understanding. A study by the American Psychological Association reveals that empathetic individuals experience lower stress levels and enhanced mental health, improving overall life satisfaction.[^1]

• Enhances Physical Health: Empathy leads to better patient outcomes in healthcare settings. When doctors practice empathy, their patients report fewer symptoms and faster recovery times, according to research from Harvard Medical School.[^2]

• Strengthens Relationships: Empathy deepens bonds with spouses, family, and friends. It allows for more effective communication and conflict resolution, as found in a study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.[^3]

• Promotes Longevity: Engaging in empathetic relationships can contribute to longevity. A comprehensive review in the journal Health Psychology shows that strong social support, stemming from empathetic engagements, correlates with a longer life span.[^4]

• Boosts Workplace Effectiveness: Empathy improves leadership abilities and workplace dynamics, enhancing job satisfaction and productivity, according to a study by the Center for Creative Leadership.[^5]

If empathy is something you want more of in your life - here’s a few ways to find more of it.

Integrating Empathy into Daily Life

• Practice Active Listening: Pay full attention to the person speaking in front of you, refrain from interrupting, and occasionally summarize their points to show understanding. Listen to understand them - not just to respond.

• Engage in Perspective-Taking: Try to view situations from others’ viewpoints, especially in conflicts. This can reduce misunderstandings and promote harmony.

• Participate in Volunteer Activities: Volunteering and even immersing yourself into someone else’s world for a few hours is an effective way to cultivate empathy by connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and understanding their life experiences.

• Cultivate Mindfulness: Regular mindfulness practices (i.e. distraction free thinking) can enhance your capacity to understand your emotions and those of others, facilitating deeper empathetic connections.

Empathy is not just a moral virtue but a practical skill that enhances one’s quality of life, relationships, and even professional success. By consciously practicing empathy, we can lead healthier, more fulfilled lives.

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I’d love to hear about how you practice empathy. 👋

I write this newsletter each week because I feel my best when my body, mind and soul are all healthy. I want the same for you. If you feel like you’ve seen something valuable here, please do me a favor and forward this newsletter to a friend or let me know what you think by replying or texting me - (310) 879-8441

I think the world is in desperate need of healthy, happy men who love the strong women in their lives with a self-sacrificing type of love.

I have found the following four books to be the 4 books every man should read and every woman should want their man to read.

• Good Energy - What makes for a Healthy Body and Mind?

• The Masculine in Relationship - How to Win the Trust, Lust and Devotion of a Strong Woman

• The Man’s Guide to Women - The Science of Happy Relationships

• The Desire of Ages - Leadership in a World of Cowards

Here are a few other links to things that have changed my life:

Whoop - Track your HRV and REM Sleep

Function Health - Optimize Your Health via 100+ BioMarkers

Here are a few topics I think you’ll love if you haven’t checked them out before:

How to Breathe for Better Health

How to Supercharge Your Sleep

The Power of the Sauna

-Jared

P.S. - This newsletter does not provide medical advice. The content, such as graphics, images, text, and all other materials, is provided for reference and educational purposes only. The content is not meant to be complete or exhaustive or to be applicable to any specific individual's medical condition.

[^1]: American Psychological Association, “Empathy and Stress,” 2022.

[^2]: Harvard Medical School, “The Role of Empathy in Medicine,” 2023.

[^3]: Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, “Empathy and Relationship Quality,” 2022.

[^4]: Health Psychology, “Social Relationships and Mortality,” 2022.

[^5]: Center for Creative Leadership, “Empathy in Leadership,” 2023.

[^6]: Mindfulness and Emotional Balance, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, 2023.