Discover how our brains are wired for empathy and connection, and learn practical ways to tap into this natural goodness with insights from “A Practical EmPath” by Scott Howard Swain.
The story
Have you ever noticed how many random acts of kindness happen every day? The helping hand when you drop your groceries, the stranger who pays for your coffee, the neighbor who shovels your sidewalk without being asked.
These moments aren’t exceptions – they’re glimpses into our true nature.
I’ve been reading “A Practical EmPath: Rewire Your Mind” by Scott Howard Swain, and it’s changing how I see people. Our brains are actually wired for empathy and connection. We naturally want to understand others and respond to their needs.
What hit me most was Swain’s idea of “Street empathy” – this everyday way we can tune into others. It’s not some special skill only for saints. It’s in all of us, just waiting to be developed.
The book blends Buddhist wisdom, Stoic principles, and modern communication techniques to show that goodness isn’t something we need to force. It’s already there, under our defenses and distractions.
When we understand someone’s feelings, generosity flows naturally. Not from obligation, but from connection.
In a world that highlights division, it’s comforting to remember that our default setting is actually kindness. We just need tools to clear away what blocks it.
That’s what this book offers – practical ways to tap into the goodness that’s already there.
