Feeling Journal · Palestine
Empathy
There may be more to the story.
Empathy can begin with a pause before advice. A person may want practical help, company, a listening ear or time alone, and we cannot reliably guess which one from a short message. These challenges explore that pause through listening-oriented words and small everyday scenarios. They do not score your character or tell you what another person is secretly feeling. The aim is simpler: notice the difference between making an assumption and asking a respectful question. Someone else's account of their own experience deserves space even when it is unlike yours.
Where the inspiration comes from
UNESCO's account of Palestinian Hikaye describes a narrative tradition practised by women, with stories that engage social and family concerns from women's perspectives. It also discusses expressive narration and the importance of listeners. Our connection is the value of attending to another viewpoint. We do not retell Hikaye stories, imitate their conventions or reduce the tradition to a generic empathy exercise. The source provides a specific cultural and historical setting, reminding us that listening well includes recognising who is speaking and the context in which their story is told.
A small way to try it
Start with the response challenge and read only what the scenario actually tells you. Before choosing, notice any extra story you have added in your head. A useful response often asks what kind of support would help instead of jumping to a solution. After playing, try that approach in a low-stakes conversation: would you like ideas, or would you prefer me to listen? Respect the answer. You do not have to agree with every interpretation to acknowledge that an experience matters to the person describing it.
Let the feeling travel
An empathy card can say I am available to listen, but it should not announce what the recipient must be going through. Avoid attaching labels to their mood or publishing their situation to explain why you sent it. If they reply, ask before sharing their words with anyone else. They may not want to talk at all, and a respectful invitation leaves that option open. When a card travels onward, let it carry a fresh offer of attention rather than somebody else's private story used as a lesson.
10 ways to play with empathy
Choose a game that suits the moment. The guides explain each activity before you begin.
Empathy · 2
Two Sides to Notice
Match words that make room for another person’s account. Turn over word cards and discover four matching pairs. This short memory round connects familiar words with a small reflection, using a shared arrangement for this challenge.
Empathy · 3
Listen to the Sequence
Attend to the whole sequence before offering your response. Watch a sequence of numbered pads, then repeat it in the same order. The lights offer a small attention challenge that you can connect with a personal thought.
Empathy · 1
A Different Perspective
Notice a different shape without calling it wrong. Look across a field of similar tokens and find the differently shaped one. The puzzle rewards careful observation of a visible detail, without assigning meaning to the people playing.
Empathy · 2
Words That Listen
Find a word that belongs in an invitation to talk. Untangle the letters to reveal a themed word. A familiar term becomes a small puzzle, followed by a gentle prompt you can keep private or share with someone.
Empathy · 3
Pause Before Advice
Arrange a listening response without jumping to a solution. Put the numbered steps into ascending order. This small sequencing puzzle gives an everyday theme a clear beginning and finish, with room to consider what the steps suggest.
Empathy · 1
Nine Listening Moments
Give every numbered stop a moment of attention. Find and tap the numbers one through nine in order. The familiar rule turns a scattered board into a short trail, leaving you a moment to notice your approach.
Empathy · 2
Another Person’s Path
Follow the shown route instead of assuming the next turn. Follow a displayed arrow sequence using the direction controls. Each turn gives you one clear choice, forming a short imaginary route around the feeling you have selected.
Empathy · 3
Leave a Little Space
Watch carefully before deciding when your tap belongs. Watch the moving pulse and tap when it reaches the marked target zone. This visual timing round can be played without sound and invites a small, deliberate moment.
Empathy · 1
Collect the Listening Cues
Collect listening cues while letting assumptions drift past. Collect the marked good symbols while leaving distractors alone. This short collecting challenge uses a clear visual rule and a themed invitation to choose what deserves your attention.
Empathy · 2
Ask Before Advising
A friend says their day was difficult and starts explaining. Which reply checks what support they want? Read the scenario and consider three replies. Choose a considerate response without guessing somebody’s private feelings.