Here is something no app or chatbot will ever be able to do: make you feel truly seen.
We have been building connections with each other since the beginning of human history. That ability to understand and share what someone else is feeling, what researchers call empathy, has helped us survive, cooperate, and care for one another. And it turns out, it matters just as much today as it ever did.
A study published in the journal Communications Psychology in January put this to the test. Participants compared empathetic responses from a chatbot and a real person. Even when people rated the AI’s performance higher, they still preferred comfort from an actual human. A machine can imitate caring. It cannot feel it.
Psychiatrist Judith Orloff, MD, author of The Genius of Empathy, puts it plainly. “People are hungry for emotional connection,” she says. “Looking at screens all day can leave people feeling empty, numb and emotionally disconnected. Being with an empathic person makes you feel seen, heard and valued.”
The good news? You can strengthen this quality in yourself. Dr. Orloff and other experts offer four practical ways to do just that.
Start with something small
You do not need a grand gesture. A simple “How are you today?” or “Good to see you!” goes a long way. Dr. Orloff says co-workers or neighbors may seem caught up in their own world, but a few warm words bring a real sense of acknowledgment. Small moments add up.
Get your body moving
Physical activity can actually build empathy. A 2025 study found that middle school students who took part in a 12-week basketball program showed increased empathy compared to students in regular physical education classes.
Mindfulness practices like meditation and tai chi can help too. They strengthen the mind-body connection, reduce stress, regulate emotions, and nurture a sense of connectedness with others.
Watch your own emotional tank
Caring deeply is a gift. But there is such a thing as caring too much. On the far end of the spectrum, some people feel others’ pain so intensely that it affects their own health.
Dr. Orloff’s advice: do not become an emotional sponge who absorbs the stress of the world. “Healthy empathy means learning how to set firm but kind boundaries,” she says. Protecting your own emotional wellbeing is part of showing up for others.
Put the phone face down
This one is simple and powerful. When someone is sharing something with you, give them your full attention. Dr. Orloff says to stop glancing at your phone while someone is talking.
Silencing your device or turning it over sends a clear message: You matter to me right now. And Dr. Orloff says the benefit runs both ways. “Someone listening to you and valuing who you are is medicine for your soul, and theirs.”
Dr. Orloff also reminds us to turn some of that compassion inward. Acknowledging our own imperfections while giving ourselves grace helps us show up more fully for the people we love.
“Take a break from your own head and all its swirling thoughts and worries,” she says, “and focus on giving empathy, which spreads kindness and caring and boosts your mood. Helping others will also help yourself.”
In a world that keeps adding more screens between us, the warmth of a real human connection is not going out of style. If anything, it is what we need most.