10/12/2026
One of the most important things I’ve learned in my work is that you can never fully know what another person is going through.
Pain is such a deeply personal experience. We can relate to someone’s suffering through our own experiences, but we can never truly understand the entirety of what it feels like to be in their body, living their life, and carrying their story.
What we can do is be present enough to listen.
And sometimes, that presence is one of the most meaningful things we can offer another human being.
I think this is especially important for those of us who hold space for others, whether as doctors, practitioners, therapists, or simply as people who care.
There’s something powerful about allowing someone to feel seen in their experience. To give them the room to express what they’re carrying, without immediately needing to interpret it, solve it, or make sense of it.
Empathy asks us to meet people where they are, with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to feel alongside them.
And while we may never fully understand another person’s pain, we can create an environment where they feel safe enough to move through it.
Sometimes, being witnessed is where healing begins.
