#Empathy is when you actually feel with someone. You try to slip into their shoes, see the world through their cracked lenses, and imagine the weight on their shoulders. It’s not about agreeing with them, just tuning into their emotional frequency.

#Sympathy is more like standing on the shore and waving at the poor soul drowning. You recognize their pain, you might even toss a “that must be tough,” but you’re not exactly swimming out there to feel the cold water yourself.

So, empathy = shared feeling.

Sympathy = observed feeling.

One is connection, the other is acknowledgment. Both can be useful, but empathy tends to build stronger bonds, while sympathy can sometimes feel distant or even a little condescending if done badly.