The Power of One Simple Question

 

It doesn’t take much to empathise with someone.

Between 2016 and 2019, while I was clawing my way out of depression, I worked as a Grab driver. At that time, it was the only thing that could get me out of bed and out of the house. I loved the conversations with my passengers - how they would end up sharing their deepest, darkest secrets with me. That's when I discovered there was something empathetic about me that made people feel safe, even while I was crumbling inside.

It was during that stint that I stumbled upon what might be a simple but one of the most powerful questions you could ask anyone. During evening peak hours, I'd pick up passengers from their offices. Some would slump into my car with a sigh and stay silent. Yet, I could feel the weight they carried. Once, I couldn’t help but ask, "Had a long day?"

The lady sat up - as if it was the first time in forever anyone had paid attention to her or even asked about her wellbeing. She started pouring out everything about her terrible day at the office. When we arrived at her destination, she thanked me for asking before getting off.

That's when I learned it took so little to connect with someone.