What you just watched:


O. O. Howard was a capable and courageous leader, but his men didn’t trust him.


Why? He preached. He judged. He told others how to behave.

But he didn’t understand them. His lack of empathy created distance between him and the very people he needed to lead. Ironically, later in life, he showed profound empathy—helping establish a university for freed slaves. He eventually learned what he failed to practice in battle:

Understanding people matters.

So what do we do
with what you just saw?

Start with the first
question below.

  • Do you try to understand people—or do you try to correct them?

  • When someone frustrates you, do you stop to consider what they’re experiencing?

  • Who in your life right now needs to be understood—not judged?

 Try one of these this week—start small:

1. LISTEN BEFORE YOU RESPOND

Don’t interrupt. Don’t fix. Just understand.

2. PAUSE YOUR JUDGMENT

Before reacting, ask: What might they be dealing with?

3. SHOW YOU UNDERSTAND

Say it clearly: “I get what you’re going through.”

ONE-LINE TAKEAWAY

Empathy means understanding others before trying to change them.

Print this and keep the value visible all week.

Want to go further with this?

The Choose Your Future series helps you build these values—one week at a time.

Click to Explore the Choose Your Future Series

These videos are part of a larger effort to guide and equip young people.

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