empathy
/ˈempəTHē/
“n. understanding a person from their frame of reference rather than one’s own, or vicariously experiencing that person’s feelings, perceptions, and thoughts. Empathy does not, of itself, entail motivation to be of assistance, although it may turn into sympathy or personal distress, which may result in action.”
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Empathy. In APA dictionary of psychology. Retrieved June 30, 2026, from https://dictionary.apa.org/empathy
A trusted reference in the field of psychology, offering more than 25,000 clear and authoritative entries.
i have recently come to the realization that many people in today’s society seem to lack empathy. People are unable to put themselves into others shoes, instead they seem to mix it up with sympathy - simply sharing a feeling or expression of someone else.
I have been taught that empathy is an action, while sympathy is passive and ineffective. healthcare workers are taught to show empathy - and it’s much harder than one would think!
to my dear fellow waddlers,
i hope you come to understand that to truly be able to connect with someone, you need to learn to become empathetic and stop being sympathetic. instead of just being sad for someone, be sad with them. embrace them and support them. in doing so, you will not only create a stronger bond with that person but also learn how to better yourself.
an example i can give you is that if someone were to tell you that they had an accident on the way to work and that is why they were late, respond to them in a manner such as this:
“That must have been very scary for you! How are you feeling? Is there anything I can do to help you?”
This in turn will help someone feel heard, appreciated, or provide a small sense of comfort that they didn’t have before.
We have unfortunately lost this ability with modern technology, which may be the reason why so many things are happening but there are no changes being done.
so if you feel alone, and want a way to connect with someone, just practice being empathetic and give yourself that chance to connect. stop being afraid and put that foot forward! 🐧
