Education Can Build Empathy: Q+A with Dr. Eric M. Moody
published April 29, 2024
Dr. Eric Moody is an Assistant Professor of Instruction and internship program coordinator for the Department of Integrative Studies at the University of South Alabama. His current research interest is the exploration of how Empathy, Humility, and Optimism collectively impact and transform our world through the achievements and accomplishments of individual citizens. Dr. Moody is the creator of the podcast Optimistic Tales.
In this Q+A with Catharine Hannay, founder of MindfulTeachers.org, Eric discusses the importance of empathy and compassion in education and in the military community. (This is a follow-up to an earlier conversation on the Optimistic Tales podcast about Mindfulness, Compassion, and the Practice of Empathy.)
Catharine: Why did you decide to focus on ‘Optimistic Tales’ in your podcast?
Eric: I’ve always felt that if we would walk a mile in someone else’s shoes for a day, we could start to understand the issues and concerns we all face as humans and then we could begin to work out the differences that would make our world a better place to live for everyone.
As I was developing my podcast, I came upon these two quotes from Pete Seeger that I used as inspiration:
“I think the world is going to be saved by millions of small things”
and
“The key to the future of the world is finding the optimistic stories and letting them be known.”
My goal is to locate and talk with the individuals responsible for the millions of small things and to let their stories be known…one optimistic tale at a time.
Catharine: You’ve stated that you’re “a firm believer that education is the means to an empathetic world.” How do you encourage empathy among your own students?
Eric: I do believe education is the key to solving the ills of the world. In addition to diversity, equality, and inclusion assignments, I have my students listen to and reflect on selected episodes from my podcast. In fact, I have interviewed several of my own students to highlight their unique “optimistic tale,” in order to share their inspirational stories with fellow classmates.
Catharine: In this season of your podcast, you’ll be speaking with musicians, and you’re interested in whether some people have a greater inborn capacity for empathy, as some people are born with perfect pitch.
Let’s turn the tables: as a musician yourself, what’s your own point of view on this issue?
Eric: First, I’d like to state that I am the Poster Child for the nurture side of this issue. I wasn’t blessed with an innate musical ability; I definitely had to practice…and still do.
I am fascinated, though, by the prospect that we all have some “empathetic abilities” we are born with, and if properly nurtured, could improve our empathetic skills, such as compassion and understanding of those who may be different from us.
Catharine: I’ve seen a lot of misunderstandings about mindfulness training in the armed forces, so I’m curious about your perspective as an Air Force veteran and former instructor of the U.S. Air Force’s Officer Accessions and Training School and the U.S. Air Force Academy: how can mindfulness and compassion help service members, military families, and veterans?
Eric: As a Retired Air Force officer, I have first hand experiences of the importance of mindfulness and compassion for our military members and their families. Many military members view their service as a calling and understand the sacrifices that they, and their families, are expected to make.
With this sacrifice comes a level of stress, uncertainty, and possibly depression, for the members and their families that most certainly benefits from an active “mindfulness” regime.
With that said, not everyone figures this out or seeks the resources available to them for help. The military has done a great job, I believe, in addressing this issue, although continued work in this area is key to the well-being of those members and their families who choose to serve our country with honor.
Catharine: In your current work as a professor and internship coordinator (with a very long commute!), what do you do personally to practice mindfulness and self-care?
Eric: I use the “very long commute” as “me time” to decompress from work and to run things “around in my head”—sometimes I talk back, but it’s always constructive criticism.
Listening to music while I work is also very soothing for me and it actually helps me focus and be more productive. I think it stems from the relaxation I got from listening to hours of music in my room on my small, AM radio when I was a kid.
As far as self-care goes, I’ve learned recently that what I eat actually does affect me and I need to be more active in my diet preparations. With that said, I’m still a carnivore and though I’ve had to cut-out tomato sauces, I love me some Roasted Vegetables, Rutabaga and Collard Greens!
Related Posts
There are many more resources here at MindfulTeachers.org on practicing empathy and compassion, including the following posts: