And yet, as recent events with Mike Brown and Robin Williams have shown us, Conservatives today lack a basic empathy that makes them seem inhumane.  At a time when we as a nation should be coming together, time and time again we drift further apar…

How do schools get to the point where kids not only think that they can make a difference, but they actually go out and do it? What is the secret to their success? What did their teachers do right?

After interviewing numerous Changemaker Schools across the country to help share their stories, insights and inspiration I discovered that there is a very clear, basic recipe for making a difference at any age. It goes like this: first, start with empathy.

Encourage and apply it. Second, work in creative leadership opportunities. Combine them together. Then watch nascent social entrepreneurs grow.The two basic ingredients are always the same…. 

1. Start with empathy. Empathy doesn’t just mean treating others better; it means doing better. It is the foundational skill that lies at the core of social change because it is what motivates us toward altruism and cooperation beyond our narrow selfinterests.When people are encouraged to identify and empathize with others, and then act on that feeling, it can become a driving force for change. If it gains enough momentum to reach the tipping point, this force can literally change the course of human history. Sounds like a series of huge leaps of logic, right?

By Eleanor Bedford

Here are some more resources you may find helpful that we’ve been hosting on empathy and Design ThinkingConference on: Empathic Design, Human-Centered Design, Design Thinkinghttp://j.mp/15hgolCEmpathic Design Magazine – Empathy in Human-…

I recently interviewed Neff about how self-esteem fails us and how we can boost our compassion for ourselves instead. An edited version of the conversation follows.Olga Khazan: What are some contexts in which we usually hear about boosting self-esteem?…