Empathy is a very important thing for all of us. As we move through life without it we would not be able to really understand others and honestly, it’s not something many people realize plays a huge role in humanity as a whole.
Without empathy truly caring for others is not necessarily possible. Empathy for those who do not know is our ability to understand and share the feelings of others. When we have a lot of empathy we are capable of really understanding the people around us and resonate more properly with them.
Below I am going to go over some things about empathy that not everyone seems to get and what empathy truly is. While these are things we should all know, most people are not as aware as they should be. I know, we all know that empathy helps us feel more for others but it’s not something that is as simple as that.
7 Things We All Need To Understand About Empathy:
1. We all have our own levels of empathy.
Some people are more empathetic than others. There are people who are very empathetic and others we do not show much empathy at all. This in itself varies from person to person whether you want to accept that or not.
2. Empathy is something we more-so learn than we are ‘born with.’
Some people seem to think we are all born empathetic towards others but that’s not necessarily the case. We all grow our empathy as we move forward in life. The things we face shape how we feel about others and it is something we learn from the world and people around us.
3. Empathy and sympathy are not the same thing.
While a lot of people seem to think these two things are the same, they are not. Empathy and sympathy are two very different things. You can feel bad for someone without being able to truly understand what it is they are feeling or going through, that is what separates the two things from one another.
5. Empathy can be exhausting.
Empathy itself is something that can be exhausting. The more we care for and understand the things others are facing the more it takes from within our own being. That being said, empathy is still very important.
6. Empathy is not necessarily driven by your intuitive side.
As noted above, empathy is learned. While a lot of people think it is something we all have on an intuitive level, that is not necessarily true. There are some people who seem to lack empathy entirely and well, that is a hard truth we all need to accept.
7. You must be willing to take care of yourself all the while sharing your empathy.
You can care for others and work to understand them all the while taking care of yourself. You should never forget yourself in all of this. You too need to be taken care of.