S tarting off your message, it may be useful to first consider your reader or recipients more deeply. How do you think they are presently, actually feeling? If you were in their position, what kind of help or advice would be useful, right now? After thinking deeply about your reader’s thoughts and feelings, you will notice a real shift to the mindset of displaying empathy in your message. If you’re still a little doubtful, here are some empathetic ways to word your initial greeting without sounding corny or false. I hope you and your family are holding up, well. Starting off your email with good wishes is a way to immediately acknowledge your recipient’s feelings or hardships. Since it’s been an exceptionally challenging time for everyone lately, you are showing that you are aware that they might be affected more than usual. It’s also good to offer good wishes a second time in the email, either in the body paragraphs or as your closing. Not only do they establish a pe...