The ability to share in someone else's experience, pain, and feelings is not the same as caring that they have the experience, pain, and feelings. This is the main difference between empathy (sharing actively) versus sympathy (caring passively). Listening with your ears from your perspective is not the same as listening with your heart and trying to understand what someone is going through. I have found that most people are so consumed with just themselves that finding true empathy in another is a rare commodity indeed. Empathy for another and others does not mean you have to take on their problems, but rather for a moment you think outside of your own self and provide the emotional support to someone in need....listening with your heart and not just your ears. Advice isn't always appropriate, but letting someone be heard and felt is a priceless gift we all have the opportunity to give!
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