You cannot "feel" someone deeply if they do not feel safe opening up. Vulnerability requires a foundation of safety.
When someone shares their darkest fear or deepest desire, the initial response should be curiosity and acceptance, not critique. Feeling You Inside (Deeper)
Acknowledge their perspective, even if you don't share it. This tells them, "I hear you, and your experience matters". You cannot "feel" someone deeply if they do
Deeper feeling is about moving beyond "how are you?" to "who are you right now?" It requires switching from "listening to respond" to "listening with the heart," note Paul and Smalley in Families.org. Acknowledge their perspective, even if you don't share it
Allowing your own heart rate or physical sensations to align with the emotional state of the other. 2. Creating the Safe Harbor
Letting go of the need to fix or defend, and simply bearing witness to the other's internal world.
