EMPATHY IS NOT SYMPATHY (The power of empathy)

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By default, every human being is created with a vacuum either emotionally, mentally etc that needs to be filled. It's commonly said that we are not perfect but work in progress towards the height of perfection. With all these indices, it suggests that every human being depends on something for balancing of life. One of the greatest killers of human beings in recent times is the emotional trauma where it's not identified gets many to an unpleasant condition which could lead to death. Some of these conditions makes one to slump and died because of the emotions imbalance.

One of the confusing words commonly used is empathy and sympathy. The ability to rightfully use the word is quite challenging for many hence they confuse the whole thing. The two words focuses on the emotional state of every human beings. For the purpose of this writing i will restrict myself to empathy and consider it's significance however I would give a clear cut between the two words according to my perspective.

Empathy entails considering others plight or challenges, feel the way they feel and provide possible means to how to overcome or come out of such situation. Whereas sympathy is to pity an individual without thinking of any possibility of how to come out of it instead it compounds the problem for that individual. You don't actually step in into the person's shoe to bear and feel how he is to be able to restore him. Empathy is really missing in today's world because of our selfishness and how others are gullible to acquire things for themselves. Many people don't consider others neither do they care about the feelings of others. Empathy is very powerful and an essential tool for sustaining a long time relationship.

Empathy is very important especially in the present time where people live in my dear country Nigeria. Many are going through life challenging moment. Many find it difficult to survive and to eat. Many died because they couldn't no one cares about them and no one showed compassion on them. We need each other to survive in the journey of life. Empathy entails to step down and feel how an individual feels emotionally, mentally, socially in order to encourage such individual on the possibility of better things in the future. At times it will require one's sacrifice and devotion to a thing. The reason why some people committed suicide is because no one found to show them empathy. Their experiences are like darkness which needs light to brighten everything.

I had the privilege to share with someone who was passing through a tough time. Infact, I saw an emotional imbalance and the person has given up on herself. She said life is meaningless and she has nothing to offer again instead is better she kill herself. Hmmm this is a bad thought and she was at the verge of commiting suicide before I stepped in me. I showed her compassion by ensuring that she is not hungry so that we can iron out issues very well. Thereafter I gave her my attention and listened attentively as she explained her ordeal and bad experience about life. Haven heard all these, I assumed myself in her condition and talked to her deeply. She consented and resolved not to do anything harmful again. That's how she came out of such condition.

Empathy is very powerful because it makes an individual feels secured, happy, and cared for. Empathy strengthen relationships. When you put your self in someone's shoe, you tend to feel how the person feels. Empathy is not sympathy and empathy is powerful for daily living. Show someone empathy together.

thanks for reading my entry for hive-reachout inleo initiative 10.