Empathy And Sympathy

It is important to distinguish between empathy and sympathy because some people hate sympathy, they feel that they are being pitied (which might not be something you wanted to convey).

SYMPATHY 

What is it? Sympathy is a feeling of care and concern for someone or to feel sorry for them. However, sympathy, unlike empathy, does not involve a shared perspective or shared emotions.

Example: I am so sorry about your loss. 

EMPATHY 

What is it? Understanding what others are feeling because you have experienced it yourself or can put yourself in their shoes.  

Example: I understand this has been a great loss for you.

But how do you get empathy? How do you understand what someone else is feeling, if that isn't happening automatically? 

Well, to a certain extent we are all designed to naturally empathize with others. Our brains are wired to experience the emotions that someone else is feeling. That's why we feel sad when our friends cry, or why we're more likely to laugh if someone else is laughing too. 

Empathy isn't always knowing exactly how someone feels in any given situation…it's recognizing what it must be like to feel that way….even if it isn't me or it's never happened to me. It's getting that you might not get it, but you care about THAT person, so you care all the same.

✗ I know exactly how you feel.

✓ I can imagine how that could feel.

✓ I can only imagine what you are going through.

Original post here by @BlissfulSummer, send them a thanks!