Why Our Souls Cannot Afford A Lack Of Empathy

Life has a way of weaving unexpected lessons into even the most ordinary or practical situations. Sometimes what begins as a business transaction or a casual encounter becomes a doorway into something far more meaningful, a reminder of the deep human connection we are all longing for and the healing power of simple empathy.

I recently found myself in a situation that reminded me of this truth in the most unexpected way.

I am in the process of selling two homes in different states, which has been quite challenging. Anyone who has sold property knows how stressful and complicated it can be…much less two properties at the same time!

Over the past couple of months I had spoken to quite a few realtors and interested buyers. One agent initially showed strong interest in one of my homes. He seemed genuinely eager, but then he suddenly disappeared without explanation. My calls and messages went unanswered. While I did not sense that he had completely lost interest, I could not wait indefinitely and had to continue moving forward with my plans.

Still, I could not shake a quiet concern for him, as though something more was happening behind the scenes, and the feeling carried a weight of unease.

Several months later, he reached out unexpectedly, asking if I had sold my property yet. He apologized for vanishing and then explained the reason for his absence. He had been in a serious car accident and had spent time in the hospital. His injuries required surgery, and bolts had been placed in his foot. Now he was in physical therapy, learning to walk again.

As he shared his story, I felt the heaviness beneath his words. Though he downplayed his pain, I could sense the deeper layers of his struggle. As both an empath and an energy healer, I could feel the ache in his body and the emotional weight of what he had endured.

Compassion is the language of God. Let us learn to live with kindness, to love everyone, even when they do not love us ~ Thích Nhat Hanh

He tried to steer the conversation back toward business, but I gently redirected it toward his well-being. I asked about his recovery, how he was really feeling, and what his days were like now. He admitted that therapy was grueling and that something as simple as walking into a restaurant had become embarrassing. He felt vulnerable and diminished in ways he had never known before.

I shared some herbal remedies that might support his healing process, and after that there was a long silence on the other end of the line. When he finally spoke again, his voice trembled with emotion.

“You know,” he said quietly, “you have shown me more empathy today than any family member, friend, or client.”

He went on to explain that when he told the people in his life about the accident, most brushed it off. His relatives never checked in, his friends barely asked questions, and not a single client responded with concern.

“None of them even know I had surgery, or that I now have bolts in my foot. You are the first person who truly cared enough to listen. Thank you. It means more than I can say,” he said.

I was deeply saddened by his experience, though unfortunately, I was not surprised.

Over the years I have heard this same sentiment from many clients, friends, and acquaintances. Again and again, people confide that they feel unseen, unheard, and alone in their struggles. And time after time, they express that even one moment of genuine empathy feels like water in the desert. Indifference has become a silent epidemic.

We live in an age where communication is easier and more instantaneous than ever before. With cell phones, email, and social media, we can connect with anyone, anywhere, at any time. And yet, paradoxically, we have never been more disconnected from one another on a soul level.

True empathy, the kind that sits with another person in their pain, that acknowledges their humanity, that says, “I see you, I feel you, you matter,” is becoming alarmingly rare.

This numbness, this lack of presence, is one of the great tragedies of modern life. And yet, it is something we all have the power to change.

Plant the seeds of love, kindness, empathy, and compassion, and they will return to you in abundance, according to nature’s law ~ Shree Shambav

Empathy As A Sacred Gift

Empathy, compassion, and kindness are not merely social graces but profound spiritual values and gifts that we are meant to offer one another. By practicing these virtues, we move beyond the confines of our own ego, recognizing our interconnectedness and fulfilling our purpose to be a source of light and healing in the world.

Many people assume empathy is something that only empaths or highly sensitive people possess, but the truth is that empathy is part of our human design. To care, to sense, to connect, that is our nature. Empathy is not just an emotional response, it is a spiritual act. It is the soul recognizing itself in another soul.

When we pause to feel someone else’s pain, when we honor their story with our attention and our compassion, we are participating in one of the most sacred exchanges possible. We are saying, your existence is important, your suffering is not invisible, you are not alone.

For those of us who are especially sensitive, like empaths, this exchange can feel even more visceral. We may actually feel another’s sorrow in our own body, hear their unspoken thoughts, or sense the hidden shame they carry. That is both a gift and a burden. But it is also a calling. The world needs more of us willing to lean in, willing to bear witness to another’s journey without judgment or agenda.

When I told the agent I could imagine him struggling to walk into a restaurant and feeling embarrassed, he paused in shock. “How did you know that happened?” he asked. I knew because I could feel it. And when he realized he had been truly seen in that way, something softened in him. He was no longer invisible. He was no longer carrying his pain in silence.

Life is an echo. What you send out comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get. What you see in others, exists in you ~ Zig Ziglar

The Ripple Effect Of Caring

What struck me most is that after this exchange, the agent insisted on going above and beyond in his business dealings with me. He confessed that he had devoted more time and attention to helping me sell my properties than he had for any other client. Why? Because he felt valued, not just as a business contact, but as a human being. My care for him had sparked his care for me.

This is the ripple effect of empathy. When we extend kindness, it does not just uplift the person receiving it. It shifts the energy of the entire relationship. It creates trust, openness, and a willingness to give back. And in a broader sense, it changes the world, one small act at a time.

The irony, of course, is that I had no expectation of gain. I cared about the agent simply because he was a person in pain. But that is the beauty of empathy, it circulates. It returns to us in ways we cannot predict, reminding us that the universe always responds to genuine compassion.

The Karmic Consequences Of Being Indifferent

Empathy is also a serious spiritual responsibility we must bear in mind. Every choice we make in how we treat others leaves an imprint on our soul. When we ignore someone’s suffering or choose indifference, we are not only failing them, we are also shaping our own karmic future.

Karma is not about punishment, but balance. If we continually turn away from others’ pain, one day we may find ourselves in need of assistance or care…and be met with the same deafening silence in return.

Many spiritual teachings describe a life review after we leave this world, where we are confronted with our lack of compassion and experience what others felt as a result of our actions and inactions. Imagine re-living every moment you dismissed someone’s pain or struggle!

Empathy matters profoundly on a soul level. It not only uplifts others, but also safeguards our own spiritual evolution, in this life and beyond.

Keeping in mind that it is expressions of affection rather than money and power that attract real friends, compassion is the key to ensuring our own well-being ~ 4th Dalai Lama

How Indifference Blocks Abundance

Another important spiritual truth to consider is that a lack of empathy and compassion directly influences our own abundance, prosperity, and well-being. What we withhold from others, we also withhold from ourselves. What we refuse to extend outward cannot flow back to us either.

The universe is an intricate web of reciprocal energy. What we send out always returns, magnified and mirrored. If we sow indifference, judgment, or coldness, those same energies eventually circle back into our own lives. If we continually close the door to others’ struggles, we should not be surprised when doors begin to close for us.

When we wish others well, take an active interest in their well-being, and offer kindness instead of indifference, we create an energetic channel through which blessings can return. But when we remain detached or dismissive, that channel becomes restricted. In time, we may find ourselves feeling blocked, stuck, or lacking in areas of our own lives. This is not punishment, but the natural law of resonance and cause and effect at work.

If we want abundance, we must be abundant in the way we treat others. If we want compassion, we must offer it freely. If we want love, understanding, and support, we must be willing to give them. Every kind thought, every empathetic gesture, every compassionate word is an investment in our own future.

The next time you are tempted to brush off someone else’s pain, remember this: the way we treat others sets the tone for the way life will treat us. By choosing empathy, we not only uplift the person before us, we also open the door to greater prosperity, peace, success and fulfillment in our own journey.

It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation. Not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, ‘Wait on time.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

How We Can All Do Better

So, I leave you with this to reflect on: The next time someone shares their story with you, how will you respond?

Will you rush past it, eager to change the subject? Or will you pause, breathe, and offer them the gift of presence? Will you ask gentle, caring questions? Offer a word of encouragement? Perhaps even extend practical help if it feels right?

Imagine what would happen if each of us chose empathy a little more often. Imagine a world where no one felt unseen, where no one suffered in silence, where the human heart was recognized as sacred.

We cannot heal all the wounds of the world, but we can heal the loneliness that so often makes those wounds unbearable. Every time we show up with kindness, every time we let another person know they matter, we are building a more compassionate and spiritually awake society.

The lesson I learned through my conversations with this agent is simple but profound. Empathy is not optional. It is essential. It is what makes us human. It is what makes us divine. And it is the one thing every soul, no matter how strong or independent, desperately needs.

So, let us hold hands, figuratively and literally, as we move through life’s challenges. Let us remember that even the smallest gesture of caring can change someone’s world. And let us never underestimate the healing power of truly seeing one another.

Because in the end, we are all just walking each other home.