empathy is …

… different from sympathy.

OK, I am a huge fan of Brené Brown and the practical wisdom that she extracts from her research on shame. Her books have accompanied my learning journey and they also accompany my clients in certain situations. She’s a rich source for practices and insights, over and over again.

Now, I just stumbled over this little animation video by her on empathy and how it is different from sympathy.

In times, where „being empathic“ is an increasingly important criterion in leadership and social life, it’s a beautiful reminder how empathy really  looks like and feels like and how difficult it is to give, as we have to connect with our own sometimes difficult emotions or experiences.

In short, by being empathic, you dig into your own painful stuff and what you can gain is true connection in your interactions. I think it’s worth it!

and… there’s more to come on this site on Brené’s work!