Empathy vs. Compassion
Empathy feels pain with; compassion stays grounded enough to help.
Description
Empathy activates resonance: your mirror neurons light up. Compassion adds Self’s stability and care, letting you stay connected and regulated. Too much empathy without compassion leads to burnout; compassion without empathy drifts into detachment.
What Empathy vs. Compassion is NOT:
Choosing coldness; emotional hierarchy; “fixing” instead of feeling.
Examples:
A therapist tears up (empathy) but also holds calm space (compassion).
Feeling your partner’s sadness yet remembering it’s theirs.
Turning “this hurts me too much” into “I can stay and help.”