Empathy: A Matter of Perspective

This piece was written as part of a college assignment exploring empathy. The goal was to recount the same event from two different perspectives to show how personal experiences shape the way we interpret situations.

Buyer’s Perspective

After months of searching, we finally found the perfect house that was everything we were looking for and in the price range that we decided. It was in a quiet area, directly in the middle of where we work, had a beautiful kitchen, and lots of space to host events. The buyer accepted our offer and we were ready to close, but when the appraisal came back lower than the asking price, the seller refused to budge. No negotiation, no compromise, and just like that, the deal fell apart. It was frustrating and exhausting having to go back to square one after we found a home that checked all the boxes.

Seller’s Perspective

I poured everything into that house. I installed new floors, custom cabinets, and felt that I had gone above and beyond giving the kitchen that special rustic feel. It isn’t just a property I’m selling, but a collection of my time, hard work, and vision. When the appraisal came back so much lower than I thought, there was no way I could accept that. I know what the house is worth, even if the appraisal doesn’t reflect it. It isn’t easy to walk away, but I’m not about to let my hard work be given away for nothing.

Reflection

Writing from both perspectives highlighted how the same event can feel completely different depending on the person experiencing it. At first, I sympathized with my friend from work. Her frustration felt justified, and it was easier to view the situation from her perspective because I was hearing it firsthand from her. I have also gone through the home-buying process and could relate to how it would feel if that happened to me. Stepping into the seller’s shoes made me realize how much personal investment goes into a home beyond just market value. I have never had to flip and sell a house, so it was more difficult for me to connect with him. However, I have felt undervalued when it came to my work and effort, which made it easier to write from his perspective once I realized that. The biggest challenge was resisting the urge to paint one side as "right" and the other as "wrong." Instead, I had to embrace the fact that both perspectives were valid, which deepened my empathy for both sides.