Sympathy V Empathy
My daughter says I need to learn to be more empathetic rather than sympathetic. When she did training to be a counsellor she was told that to be empathetic was to find someone stuck in a hole and make suggestions from the top to aid them to get out of the hole. It is to understand their dilemma but not get too involved with how they feel and be more intent on helping them find their own solution with your help. To be sympathetic is to get into the hole and feel very sorry for their dilemma but have no ongoing stragegy for getting out of the hole, therefore you get totally involved and become stuck in the hole with them. As I've said here before a good friend of mine has terminal lung cancer. I am doing all I can in these restricted times to support her. We've had a facetime call every week since lockdown began and I'm now beginning to see her deterioration. I cannot visit her and give her a cuddle just now but I can allow her to be 'herself' with me...