• Sympathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It is often characterized by feelings of pity or sorrow. For example, if a friend tells you that they have just lost their job, you might feel sympathy for them and feel sorry for their situation.
• Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, but it goes one step further than sympathy. With empathy, you not only understand how the other person is feeling, but you also feel those same emotions yourself. For example, if you were to experience the same job loss as your friend, you would be able to empathize with them on a deeper level.
• Compassion is the feeling of sympathy and concern for another person's suffering, combined with the desire to help them. Compassion is often seen as the highest form of empathy, as it involves not only understanding and sharing another person's feelings, but also taking action to help them. For example, if your friend lost their job, you might feel compassion for them and want to help them find a new job.

So, which one is better, sympathy or empathy? It depends on the situation. Sympathy can be helpful in providing comfort and support, while empathy can help you to better understand and connect with another person. Compassion is the highest form of empathy, as it involves both understanding and sharing another person's feelings, and wanting to help them.
Here are some examples of empathy and compassion:

• Empathy: A friend tells you that they are struggling with anxiety. You listen to them and try to understand how they are feeling. You might even share a personal story about how you have dealt with anxiety in the past.
• Compassion: You see a homeless person on the street. You feel compassion for them and want to help. You might give them some money or food, or you might volunteer your time at a homeless shelter.

Tags: Relationships