<p>What is the difference between empathy and compassion?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>When you feel compassion for someone, you feel sorry for them or feel badly for what they are going through. When you feel empathy, you are actually feeling what they feel. For instance if you had a spouse that has/had cancer you can empathize with another spouse going through the same thing. But if your spouse had never gone through cancer and you have never had to deal with a person going through cancer, you can feel badly for someone that does, but you can really “feel” what they are feeling because you never have had that experience.</p>
<p>^^^^^That is how I understand it, but I also take compassion to encompass not just wishing you could lessen the pain of someone else, but a deeper understanding and love for them, for just being human, which includes forgiveness of their misteps, at the same time forgiving yourself.
You can forgive someone without forgetting or excusing.</p>
<p>I think that “sympathy” more encompasses the idea that you can identify with what the other person is going through. I think you can have empathy towards their situation, and that, in turn, causes you to have compassion for them.</p>
<p>[Empathy</a>, Sympathy, and Compassion 101 | Stephen Crippen’s Blog](<a href=“http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/]Empathy”>http://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/empathy-sympathy-and-compassion-101/)
[Sympathy</a> vs. Empathy vs. Compassion - Operation Meditation - Operation Meditation](<a href=“http://operationmeditation.com/discover/sympathy-vs-empathy-vs-compassion/]Sympathy”>Sympathy vs. Empathy vs. Compassion - Operation Meditation)</p>
<p>em·pa·thy<br>
/ˈempəTHē/
Noun
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.</p>
<p>sym·pa·thy<br>
/ˈsimpəTHē/
Noun
Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune.
Formal expression of such feelings; condolences.</p>
<p>com·pas·sion<br>
/kəmˈpaSHən/
Noun
Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others: “the victims should be treated with compassion”.</p>
<p>These words meanings vary widely amongst groups.</p>
<p>Here’s a link to the definition of empathy:</p>
<p>[Empathy</a> - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary](<a href=“http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empathy]Empathy”>Empathy Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster)</p>
<p>When you empathize with someone, you are able to put yourself into their situation psychologically. It’s not necessary to do that to feel compassion.</p>
<p>Empathy: to feel “with”
Compassion: to feel “for”</p>
<p>There are also compassionate acts. It is more active.</p>
<p>ADad, you’ve got me curious. What prompted the question?</p>
<p>Empathy is what I want more of from my husband!</p>
<p>Are you two married?</p>
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<p>I’ve asked similar questions here on occasion and found the responses to be helpful. </p>
<p>I would like to have more empathy and more compassion. Plus, now that I am studying professional counseling, I have a career-related interest as well.</p>
<p>Wondering aloud for a moment. As a counselor I’m thinking that at times perhaps being a good listener and still maintaining appropriate boundaries is key. I imagine it’s important to have enough balance and not get too caught up or pulled into a feeling to do the job you need to do.</p>
<p>Another thought is that different people react differently, and sometimes you will be misinterpreted. You can care a great deal, and someone may be so on edge or defensive that they can’t see it at all.</p>
<p>In any job that is a people job, that draws on your own inner resources, you have to remember to take care of yourself. You can’t take care of anyone else if you don’t.</p>
<p>Empathy: you feel another persons pain
Compassion: you give a damn about another persons pain</p>