When we catch ourselves trying to understand someone else, imagining ourselves in their position, trying to deeply understand their emotions and trying to understand their mental state, we are experiencing something called empathy.
Empathy vs sympathy
Many people tend to confuse empathy with sympathy but they’re actually two different things.
When we experience sympathy, we feel sorry and concern towards someone that’s going through a difficult situation. “Sympathy is a feeling of sincere concern for someone who is experiencing something difficult or painful,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. For example, when you say things like “I’m here for you,” “that’s so sad,” or “I’m sorry that happened to you,” you’re expressing the feeling of sympathy.
When we feel empathy towards someone, we put ourselves in their position like if we were going through the same thing. “Empathy involves actively sharing in the emotional experience of the other person,” according to Merriam-Webster. When you say “I know how you feel”, or “I’m here if you need to talk,” you are expressing empathy. You can also express empathy by offering physical and/or emotional comfort.
According to Merriam-Webster, the only thing that empathy and sympathy have in common is that “Sympathy and empathy both refer to a caring response to the emotional state of another person.”
People experiencing sympathy and empathy
Julie Doroteo: “One time I felt sympathy was when I saw Allyson C. get embarrassed because she didn’t catch the jolly rancher that Mr. Lo gave her.”
Allison Cerritos: “One time I felt empathy when my friend Allyson R. was presenting in sixth grade and she struggled a little with her presentation and I related to that.”
The importance of empathy
We humans are born with the ability to tell one another’s emotions and understand them. This helps us in connecting with one another based on our needs and weaknesses. According to Experience Life Magazine by Life Time, “It leads groups to cooperate and build communities based on shared vulnerabilities and needs.” Empathy also helps us in deepening the relationship that we have with the person as well as making the connection stronger. According to Mike Robbins, national speaker and writer, “Empathy is one of the most important aspects of creating strong relationships, reducing stress, and enhancing emotional awareness.” This shows that we also get benefits when we express empathy.
