The Learning: Empathy vs. Sympathy

Inspired by Justin Kan.

In this year, I will be learning from those who have found happiness and deeper meaning beyond success. My goal is to focus on self development, reset and take all things back to fundamental habits. Most importantly, to build meaningful relationships with others.

What interests me in the past few months is to realize the differentiation between Empathy and Sympathy.

“#Empathy means experiencing someone else's feelings. #Sympathy, on the other hand, means understanding someone else's suffering.”

Empathy feels connection.

Empathy allows you to imagine what it's like to be me, him, or her.

The ability to take perspective of another person. Staying out of judgement. Not easy when you’re enjoyed as much of it.

Empathy is feeling with people.
When someone is in a deep hole and they shoutout in the bottom that I am stuck, it’s dark, I’m overwhelmed.

and then we look and we say..

Hey I am down. I know what it’s like down here and you’re not alone.

Empathy is honorable choice. In order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that know that feeling.

If I share something with you that is really difficult, I’d rather hear you say.

“I don’t even know what to say right now. But, I am glad that you told me.”

What makes something better it’s not a response but connection.