We become more efficient when we mimic nature. Consider how nature-based architectural design has been shown to promote productivity, one psilocybin-assisted therapy session has shown to be more promising than the daily use of antidepressants, outdoor learning leads to deeper and broader learning, and our communication pathways have been seen in almost all of nature.

It’s quite fascinating to know that when a leaf senses being eaten, it communicates through the air to let the other branches activate their immune system (Schlanger, 2024, p. 27-29). Effective communication is the hallmark of any thriving system; it is how we gain strength by working together. Ecosystems are communities of life and death, give and take, communicating in perfect balance.

To communicate effectively, we need empathy. Empathy in conversation is the skill of understanding the emotional undertone of the other person (Lockwood, 2018). When we understand with emotion, we can respond accurately and connect deeply.

A common tip shared in popular self-help books is to rephrase what the other person said using different words. The idea behind this tip is that it makes the other person feel heard and uses cognitive empathy, just like ChatGPT. However, there is a difference between being heard and being understood. There are unlimited layers of understanding we can tap into with emotional empathy, just like some very loving humans (Chakrabarti, 2006). Do you know what lacks emotional empathy? Robots.

Here is a conversation I just had with my assistant ChatGPT:

Me: I am scared and would love some warmth

ChatGPT: I'm here........

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