Sympathy vs. Empathy

Sympathy versus empathy.  Now, I'm no Brene Brown, so if you want to learn about this topic for real, I HIGHLY recommend going to YouTube and typing in Brene Brown.  She's got some great TED Talks and also a cute little animated video (here ya go: https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw)

But anyways. Sympathy versus empathy. They both serve great purpose and I think they are both necessary to truly connect with another person.  Some people tend to be naturally more empathetic than others, and some people are really good at being sympathetic and showing up in those times of need. To me, the best way to describe it is this:

Me:  I'm having a hard day and I'm really emotional and I feel like I just can't get off the bathroom floor. It's too hard.

Sympathetic: I'm sorry you're sitting on the bathroom floor. 

Empathetic: I'm sorry you're sitting on the bathroom floor. Can I come sit with you?

Sometimes we need the sympathy. When something goes wrong you don't necessarily want the cashier at the grocery store or your kinda weird coworker offering to come sit on your floor (although I have great coworkers who have become friends, and I'm sure there are plenty of empathetic cashiers). 

But empathy? The willingness to crawl through the muck with you? The ability to say 'I've been where you've been in some way, shape, or form, and I am here with you now."  That is everything. 
A few key points about empathy. 
1.  Empathy fuels connections. 
2.  Empathy is feeling WITH people. 
3. Empathy is a vulnerable choice to  connect with someone on a deep emotional level. 
4. Empathy never starts with "at least". 

Sometimes empathy is uncomfortable. You have to go back and remember a time when you were on the bathroom floor or when you felt...(insert emotion here),  and that is uncomfy for sure. But as the all knowing, ever wise Brene Brown said, "rarely can a response make something better.  What makes something better is connection." 

*sympathy vs. empathy pictures I painted whilst sitting on the bathroom floor*