What do sports, movies and books have in common?

They are rife with stories. And these stories, if they are powerful enough and are told properly, can transcend generation, class and culture despite any barrier and change in medium. It’s why Beowulf is taught in high schools. It’s how coaches inspire greatness. It’s what parents use to guide morality.

So what makes a “powerful” story?

In a word: Empathy.

The ability to feel what someone else feels is at the heart of humanity. When someone takes the time to achieve genuine understanding of another person, great things happen. This sentiment is not a new idea but rarely occurs – just as there are lots of books in a library, not all of them worth reading.

We seek first to understand because only then will genuine empathy occur. And when it does, when someone gives something of themselves in response to an action, trust begins to form. This requires time, sincerity and a willingness to listen without judgment.