by Author Name Withheld 230

Created on: July 02, 2008   Last Updated: March 21, 2009

Do you truly know the meaning of "empathy"?

Does any one really?

Is it the same as sympathy?

Well the answer may not be clear it come from a Greek word "enpatheia" En-meaning in and Patheia- meaning to suffer.

So basically it's to be in-suffering, but not for yourself, for another person.

We have all been in situations where you don't know what exactly to say to a person going through suffering.

We fumble for the right words, the right gestures, we feel sympathetic.

But those who actually express empathy have a greater understanding of what it is to "feel" the others pain, to share it if you will.

For me this word evokes all kinds of feelings, of sharing in another's situation of going through it "with them", and not from afar. Of serving another when they can not serve themselves.

We have all heard the saying "you need to walk in another's shoes to truly understand".
Well...Why don't we?

Why don't we show more empathy, we would surely like it shown towards us.

Robert Louis Stevens writes: So long as we love we serve; So long as we are loved by others, I would almost say that we are indispensable, And no one is useless while they have a friend.

Empathy seems to be just another word for "Love".

When we love we feel, we do , we act, we serve.

Empathetic people have been known to be highly sensitive.

This is the term commonly used in describing one's abilities (sensitivity) to another's emotions and feelings.

Em-paths have a deep sense of knowing that accompanies empathy and are often compassionate, considerate, and understanding of others.

Liken it to a "horse whisperer" that mysterious gift some have to just simply understand the animal so much, actually "feel" the animal that it responds to the energy.

While there is much we don't yet understand about how empathy works, we have some knowledge.

Everything has an energetic vibration or frequency and an empath is able to sense these vibrations and recognize even the most subtle changes undetectable to the naked eye or even the five senses.

This sensitivity is absolutely a gift.

Mother Theresa was in my opinion a most empathetic person.

She served those that suffered, spoke for the weak, and stood by them completely and totally in "knowing".

To many the feelings associated with empathy are overwhelming, therefore they try to block it, avoid it, or ignore it.

But we should tap into this fountain from time to time and work to serve in some way even if it's small, with someone whom we can feel empathy for.

In the end, truth is, we are ALL connected and the ripple effect this can cause has no limits.

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