The Power of Empathy, The True Success of Connection
Today, I met a wonderful person for the first time—a migrant screenwriter full of strength, developing an audiovisual project to support the creative migrant community. From the start, I felt a deep connection with her through our stories of struggle, of how we have both moved forward to reach where we need to be. We are both profoundly grateful for our journeys, advancing step by step, knowing that true success comes through empathy and passion, the same energy that keeps our strength alive.
Art and Latin resilience move in the same way, with the energy of passion and an unwavering determination to reach what seems unattainable. I felt a deep identification upon seeing how much intention passion can carry—how, when we are clear about our goals, no obstacle can hold us back. The strength of Latin America, rooted in the resilience of minorities and the working class, is the engine that powers the continent. It’s a force that crosses borders, carrying with it the whispers of generations, remaining an endless source of inspiration even in the face of hardship and abuse.
We live in a world of dominant narratives that often pull us away from our essence, that dictate our belief systems, identity, and even our future. We seek happiness, fulfillment, and well-being, though the everyday challenges us with obstacles that require our best attitude. In this pursuit to create, grow, and become, we increasingly immerse ourselves in self-focus, adopting a personal commitment and responsibility that, while essential for our own development, should also help us build bridges with the outside world.
Yet we often fall into an egocentric journey, where the world seems to revolve around us alone. It’s paradoxical, as this inner work is vital, but excessive focus on ourselves risks making us forget the other: how they feel, how they perceive, and the value of collaborating. Suddenly, we’re faced with the reality that although we can achieve much alone, certain things are only attainable in unity. When we work alongside others, sensing and collaborating with them, we generate a greater force.
Recently, I listened to a podcast on military intelligence in the United States, which emphasized the value of cohesion, teaching each soldier the importance of collective consciousness. Part of their training promotes unconditional love and mutual care in extreme situations, including through psychoactive exercises. In such conditions, there is no room for individual achievement; success lies in unity, ensuring no one is left behind and building a common wall of protection.
Empathy, in this sense, is not only a virtue but the true “event”: a state where individual identity expands to encompass the other. Practicing empathy means opening ourselves to the presence of the other sincerely, listening without judgment, allowing each word to be a door into their inner world. It also means learning to see the story the other is not telling: reading in their silence, their gaze, or their gestures, asking questions that help them feel seen and accepted. Empathy is an exercise in humility, a willingness to learn from others’ experiences, allowing the pain or joy of another to transform us.
In this way, empathy becomes that true event: the richness of one being meeting another and creating something that couldn’t exist in solitude. It’s not about abandoning our personal growth, but integrating it into a shared journey, where success is not an isolated achievement but the echo we leave in the lives of those who walk alongside us. In this practice, we find that true accomplishment is not just reaching our own dreams but knowing we have contributed to the well-being, peace, and purpose in the lives of others.
Much love from me to you