Tag: Sympathy

Let us fathom a  difference among sympathy, empathy, and compassion. Sympathy is to feel sorry for others’ misfortunes, to feel pity for someone’s pain and plight. When you raise the level of sympathy feeling what others are going through, it is Empathy. Empathy is a more intense feeling than sympathy where you sense the pain of others by stepping into their shoes. If empathy is to feel the pain of others by stepping into their shoes, Compassion is to walk wearing those shoes. It is the conversion of feelings into action, doing something to relieve their pain. As it comes: You are fortunate if you can sympathize. Others' plight does not affect everyone. Kudos! Humanity prevails within you. But is it enough? No, it's not. With sympathy comes responsibility, responsibility to convert those feelings into actions. Sympathy only cannot solve their problems.  My dear friend, sympathy leading to empathy, and empathy leading to compassion is a process, which must be completed. It may not be possible every time but trust me, it is possible most of the times. You can always extend either your tangible or intangible support. Let us assume two instances from daily life, one seeking tangible support and the other seeking intangible support. Let’s find out whether you are sympathetic, empathetic or compassionate? The instance seeking your intangible support... Not only you are surrounded by life but also death surrounds you. Let's be practical. Someone known to you dies once in a while. And in this situation, feeling sympathetic about the loss sitting at your home is not doing any good to the ones who lost their loved one. If you feel bad about it, go to them and express your sympathy. Trust me, even a few encouraging words is an act of compassion here. It is because this is the best you can do in this situation. No one can overturn this unfavorable situation. But what you can offer here is your intangible support. Never refrain from showing up to people experiencing these situations. Sink into the mind that people acknowledge your face in a funeral more than in a celebration. If they are facing it today, it can be you tomorrow. If you need shoulders, offer a shoulder first. The instance seeking your tangible support... You see an old disabled person; worn clothes, as skinny as a rail, helplessly lying down on the roadside. Instinctively, you feel sympathy towards him. ‘Cruel life,’ you mutter to yourself. A few thoughts of kindness follow your ongoing feelings. Dear friend... You are right until now. But the problem is you change thereon… You start putting allegations as per your convenience… on God, destiny, government, country, people, and so on. Ironically, you blame everyone for their plight except yourself. You feel lighter because you think you bailed yourself out of that situation. Sorry but to say the least, you step back at the action time. It is the same case when you want the street drains clean after throwing garbage inside it. Next day, you come across the other incident of the same genre and repeat the same process. Sorry but this is happening with...