Keep going with empathy and relationships – it is not limited to the homeless or your partner…
When your infant is thirsty or hungry, you don’t stop to consider if they pass your test for being worthy of eating. At least I hope you don’t.
You feed them without judgment because it is the right thing to do. Why?
You alleviate their suffering rather than add to it.
You likely have never questioned that.
They did not “earn” your help.
They did not “earn” that food and yet you willingly gave it to them. Why?
Have you ever been an infant and relied on others?
What was it like to rely on someone else to take care of your needs because you could not?
Have you ever had to rely on your partner for help, emotional, physical or other? What was that like for you?
How do the two of you do when one needs to rely on the other?
Are you there when your partner needs you?
Can your partner rely on you?
This is the basis of trust, as an infant, a young child, someone in relationship to someone in power, a romantic relationship, business relationship…