Stepping Into Someone Else’s Shoes

By Dr. Wil Rodríguez

“What if the person you judged today carries a pain you’ve never known?”

👣 Introduction: The Journey of Empathy

We live in a world that often moves too fast to stop and feel. A world that rewards judgment over understanding. Yet, one of the most radical and transformational acts we can perform is to pause—and step into someone else’s shoes.

Empathy is not weakness. It’s power. It’s awareness. It’s humanity. And in times like these, it might be our only path forward.

Judgment Is Easy. Understanding Is Revolutionary.

It’s easier to label someone than to listen to their story. We scroll, we swipe, we assume. But behind every angry face, every harsh comment, every strange behavior—there is always a story we do not know.

We forget that trauma speaks in many tongues. And sometimes, the loudest people are the ones hurting the most.

A Practice, Not a Personality Trait

Empathy is not something you’re born with—it’s something you cultivate. Just like strength, it grows with practice.

Stepping into someone else’s shoes means asking:

• What might this person be carrying today?

• What have they endured that I haven’t?

• What pain shaped their behavior?

It doesn’t mean you excuse harm. It means you try to understand it—so you can respond instead of react.

The Cost of Separation

When we stop being curious about others, we stop being human. The lack of empathy leads to division, dehumanization, and conflict. We create “us vs. them” narratives and lose sight of our shared struggles.

But when we lean in with compassion, we see reflections of ourselves in others. That is when healing begins.

Real Stories. Real People. Real Change.

In my coaching practice, I once worked with a man who lashed out at everyone around him. It turned out he had buried his son two years earlier and never spoke of it. When someone finally listened, his entire posture shifted. He cried. He softened. He changed.

All it took was one person to ask, “Are you okay?”

Start Small, Go Deep

Empathy doesn’t always look like activism. Sometimes, it’s sitting with someone in silence. Sometimes, it’s not responding with sarcasm. Sometimes, it’s admitting, “I don’t understand what you’re going through, but I’m here.”

Final Reflection

Next time you feel the urge to judge someone, stop and ask:

“What if the person I’m judging is carrying something heavier than I’ll ever understand?”

Let that question lead your next action.

Call to Action

Join the Tocsin Transformational Insights group and share a moment when you chose empathy over assumption. Let’s normalize understanding in a world full of opinions.

🔗 Join the Conversation Now