I am reading the transcript of the interview of Marie Kondo with Tim Ferris (the video doesn’t exist).
They also have a translator, who translates Marie’s responses in Japanese to English.
For the first 2-3 questions, Tim speaks directly to Marie, addressing her as “you”, et al.
However, since the translator is doing all the talking to Tim on Marie’s behalf, after those 2-3 questions, Tim starts talking directly to the translator, with Marie as the third person, addressing her as “she”.
This goes on throughout the interview.
If we pause for a moment, this was a subtle hint at empathy on the part of Tim Ferris. He knew he would be talking to the translator, so there was no point of making the translator feel non-existent. He rather acknowledged his presence and started speaking to him directly.
The art of making people feel seen—no one teaches this to us. No one can.
It is something we all choose, every single day.
I can say it with conviction that Tim Ferris has it because he chooses to first make himself seen, by reflection, reading, thinking, writing, etc. Which is why, making others feel seen becomes his second nature.
Self awareness is the only way we can be there and aware for everyone else.
Self awareness is the step zero to empathy.
Translated:
Take care of yourself, you cannot not take care of everyone else.
You don’t prepare for empathy. You show up with it
