Do you show sympathy or empathy?
Do you show
sympathy or empathy?
As an energy healer, I often work with people who are really poorly - some having being told by their doctors they only have a short time to live.
When I started my healing work in 1979, faced with these situations I felt so much sympathy for my clients as I listened and watched their pain and suffering.
If you have compassion - it is easy to feel sorry for people who are sick - as you want to do everything you can to help them.
What I found was that I often got confused between sympathy and empathy.
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they are like distant cousins in the world of emotions. Taking a holistic view, let’s try to understand what sets them apart and why empathy often emerges as the more profound and meaningful choice.
Sympathy, on one end of the spectrum, involves recognizing and acknowledging someone's pain or suffering without necessarily feeling it yourself. It's like standing on the seashore, seeing someone struggle in rough seas and expressing your concern from a safe distance.
So sympathy is, in essence, a kind and compassionate response, but it lacks the depth of emotional connection that empathy offers.
It can sometimes feel distant because it doesn't require you to step into the shoes of the person experiencing the pain. While it's a genuine expression of care, it may not always provide the solace and comfort that someone in distress truly needs.
Empathy, on the other hand, takes a deeper plunge into our emotions. It goes beyond acknowledging someone's pain; it involves feeling their emotions as if they were your own. Empathy requires you to put yourself in their situation, to imagine what it's like to be them, and to genuinely share in their joy or sorrow.
It’s like seeing the world through your clients eyes - walking in their shoes.
This profound connection is what makes empathy such a potent force in human relationships. It bridges gaps, fosters understanding, and creates bonds that sympathy alone cannot replicate.
In our journey through life, we encounter countless opportunities to connect with others on a deep, meaningful level and while sympathy is a beautiful and important expression of care, empathy is the beacon that guides us toward more profound connections and a richer understanding of the human experience.
The next time you find yourself in a situation where someone is going through a tough time, consider taking that extra step beyond sympathy. Dive into the depths of empathy, and you may find that it not only enriches your relationships, but also transforms you into a more compassionate and understanding person.
It's a journey worth embarking upon—one that can lead to a world filled with greater empathy, kindness, and love.
Try it and see!
With Love & Light
Roger
“No one can dim the light that shines within
“Each one of us has the ability to heal ourselves - and others. That gift, which is often dormant, can be awakened and used to transform our lives, and those around us, into something remarkable”