We have all dreamed about it at least once. Standing in front of a mirror, trying to move an object with our minds or wishing we could just fly away from a traffic jam. Usually, we want superpowers for our own benefit—to be faster, stronger, or cooler. But if I actually had the chance to pick one power to change the world, I wouldn’t pick flight or invisibility. I would choose The Power of Universal Empathy.
The Root of the Problem
If you look at the news today, most of our global problems come from a lack of understanding. Wars, environmental destruction, and social inequality often happen because people in power cannot—or will not—feel the pain of those they are affecting. We live in bubbles.
How the Power Works
With “Universal Empathy,” I wouldn’t just be “nice.” My power would allow anyone within a certain radius to truly feel the emotions and physical sensations of the people around them.
Imagine a world leader about to sign a paper that starts a war. Suddenly, they feel the intense fear of a child in the target zone. Or imagine a CEO of a giant company feeling the exhaustion of a worker who can’t afford rent. It would be impossible to be cruel if you had to feel the consequences of your actions instantly. Empathy becomes a mirror that no one can ignore.
Changing the World, One Connection at a Time
In my blog “vision,” this power would change the world in three main steps:
1. Peace: Conflict would become physically painful for the aggressor. Negotiation would be the only way to find relief.
2. Environment: If we felt the “sickness” of the oceans or the heat of a dying forest as if it were our own skin, we would stop polluting immediately.
3. Equality: Hunger wouldn’t be a statistic anymore; it would be a shared feeling that we would all work together to fix.
Conclusion
Of course, I know that “superpowers” aren’t real. We don’t have magic rings or alien DNA. But writing this makes me realize that we actually have a “lite version” of this power already. It’s called listening. We might not be able to read minds, but we can try to understand perspectives.
If I had a superpower, I’d force the world to feel. But since I don’t, I guess I’ll just start by trying to feel a little more myself.