Empathy & Compassion

Last week I noted the power of empathy in a disconnected world. But it’s important to recognize that empathy is not just about feeling another’s pain but about holding it in a way that allows for genuine care and action. Empathy requires self-compassion, as we cannot truly engage with the suffering of others if we have not learned to be compassionate toward ourselves.

Without the grounding of compassion, empathy can become overwhelming.

If we only feel empathy, we may get swept away by another’s pain, unable to respond effectively. This is where self-compassion becomes essential. By practicing self-compassion, we build internal resilience and emotional strength, enabling us to be present with our own suffering. This, in turn, allows us to hold space for others without feeling depleted or overwhelmed.

Self-compassion also acts as a buffer between empathy and burnout.

It enables us to engage with another person's experience fully, without absorbing their emotional burden as our own. This makes empathy sustainable and prevents what’s known as “empathic distress,” which occurs when we become so overwhelmed by another’s pain that we feel powerless to help.

Moreover, self-compassion fosters emotional clarity.

It helps us discern when we are experiencing empathic distress versus genuine compassion. By recognizing our limits and caring for our emotional needs, we ensure that our empathy for others is not clouded by unresolved pain or self-criticism.

In cultivating self-compassion, we create the conditions necessary to offer true, constructive empathy to others. The more we care for ourselves, the more we can authentically show up for others, creating a ripple effect of compassion that connects and heals in a disconnected world.