Brené Brown video
Sympathy vs Empathy - Both are appropriate at different times. The goal is to figure out which I am most capable of providing, and then looking for others that can provide the additional support needed.
- Sympathy: Sympathy refers to understanding and acknowledging another person’s emotions or difficulties from a perspective outside their direct experience. It involves feeling compassion, pity, or sorrow for someone else’s hardships or challenges. Sympathy often involves a sense of concern or care for another person’s well-being.
Bad or Superficial Sympathy…
Responding to another person’s pain just to be polite.
An attempt at caring… But not really investing.
Brené Brown statement “it’s bad huh… Want a sandwich?”
Do not try to fix people!
(when we do not truly understand, or have not invested deeply enough to understand)
No Silver linings (Brené Brown)
“At Least”!!!! replace with… “I’m sorry”
Rarely can a response make something better
Good Sympathy
Empathy with boundaries…
Enabling, Enmeshed, Over Identifying
(me telling my story rather than listening to their story)
(Professional Distance)
Outside my direct experience
There are areas where I cannot truly empathize because it is out of my range of understanding. I could not with integrity say to a woman who just had a miscarriage “I know exactly what you’re going through”.
(A child struggling with drug addiction)
(The parent bond is just different than even dealing with a sibling or friend)
“How can I be here for you?”
Presents over dialogue…
Grow in understanding: Even though I may not be able to truly understand their pain with them… By walking in an sympathetic way, I can expand my concern and care by listening and just being present with that individual and that does bring about empathetic responses, even with a person who is experiences and struggles are far different than anything I have experience experienced.
In summary, sympathy is more about recognizing and acknowledging someone’s emotions or situation… but Empathy requires a more profound emotional engagement…
Beth: The Nature of Empathy
“Empathy is a vulnerable choice.”
John - The greatest act of empathy is Jesus taking on our humanity
Philippians 2:6-8 Christ, Being in very nature God… made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death– even death on a cross!
Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a God who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
God is not out of touch but comes to us to show his dedication to us, in a truly empathetic way.
Hebrews 2:17-18 For this reason he (Jesus) had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
He did not just take on our anatomy… (look like us)
He took on our humanity… (Became Like Us)
Holy Spirit
John 14:16-18 (Jesus speaking about leaving) I will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever– the Spirit of truth… you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans.
His empathetic engagement with us, empowers our ability to have empathetic connection with others.
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:26-27 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Beth: practical examples of how Jesus empathy impacted individuals.
“To lead in building Christ-centered communities equipped for the 21st century.”
Matthew 5:39 …But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.
Matthew 25:34-40 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’