Empathy is not pity.
Compassion humbles the soul,
inspires knowledge; and ignites purpose. There is only so much life one can live. It’s a blessing to be able to experience life in an another’s shoes.
The world isn’t fair.
Having empathy is acknowledging how fortunate we are to be in our positions. Gratitude can help lead us to living happier lives.
Different strokes for different folks.
Sometimes the purest form of empathy is accepting things are beyond our personal logic and reasoning. It’s not just an exercise in understanding; it can be act of tolerance and mercy.
I’ve always considered myself to be empathetic. But I have come to realize how incredulous and self-righteous I can also be. Sometimes I empathize merely to make myself seem better or to strengthen my position in an argument; but not to truly connect with or benefit my counterpart. A disingenuous attempt at empathy can oversimplify things or create unrealistic expectations.
Empathy is not the truth. It’s the other’s point of view.
Chris Voss