Courageous Vulnerability and Loving Yourself with Najwa Zebian and Lewis Howes

Empathy

Najwa Zebian emphasizes the transformative power of empathy in fostering authentic connections. She believes that empathy requires us to truly understand and share the feelings of others, which begins with being honest about our own emotions. "We need to be able to put ourselves in other people's shoes, feel exactly how they're feeling before we utter a word," she asserts, highlighting the importance of self-awareness in this process 1. Najwa also reflects on her own experiences as an empath, noting how her kindness often led her to make excuses for others, but she has learned to remain true to her values regardless of others' actions 2.

   

Judgment

Najwa Zebian discusses the challenges of navigating religious judgment and its impact on self-worth. She shares her experiences with criticism from both Muslims and non-Muslims, emphasizing the irony of being judged by those who overlook their own religious teachings against gossip and backbiting 3. Najwa advocates for acceptance and compassion, arguing that religious beliefs should not be used to belittle others. "Have your religious beliefs all you want, but you can't belittle a person because of what you believe," she insists, calling for a separation between personal beliefs and the treatment of others 4.