Sympathy-vs-Empathy

Sympathy is feeling “for” someone, ie. “I feel so bad for you.” “That thing that happened to you is awful.” A sympathetic response to someone’s circumstances may include an “at least ______” statement within the listener’s attempt to put a silver lining on the bad situation, hoping that it will make the other person “feel […]

Developing Empathy for Building Relationships and Helping Others

Empathy is a Powerful Resource for Building Relationships and Helping Others Many people hear of a friend’s trouble and wish to “fix the problem”. We are uncomfortable with their pain and struggle because it reminds us of our own. We find it difficult to “just” listen, understand and acknowledge the difficult feelings, but often that […]

Empathy – Barriers & Solutions: Cultural

Cultural Barriers & Solutions related to Empathy