Empathy, but not compassion?

“ I can actually empathise with their situation.” We say this when we have gone through the exact same thing and can fully understand someone else’s pain, their anguish, their trials and tribulations. But what happens when we cannot empathise, when we cannot fully comprehend their struggle? Do we just shrug it off as an unfortunate occurrence not concerning us or do we try to do something , however small, to ease their suffering? That something, my friends is the hallmark of compassion.

Empathy cannot be shown by everybody, as you have to go through the same hellish experience to even begin to relate to somebody else’s grief. But nothing warrants holding back that shred of compassion that makes us say a small prayer, give a much needed shoulder to cry on or say the words “ I am there for you”. Some might be of the  shrewd opinion that there is a limit up to which we can be there for others as ultimately the battle is theirs to face. Others, who are not so sensitive, might say that as long as it does not directly affect us there is nothing much we can possibly do. The arguments are endless but so are the reasons for showing compassion. In the end, the choice is ours.

Everyone has their own life to attend to, their own family to take care of and their own demons to face, so adding to the already growing pile may not make much sense in the beginning but sometimes we have to think, not with the mind but the heart. Empathy is a stronger source of comfort than compassion but even in the direst of straits, a few kind words does something, if not everything to slowly nurture hope.

I accept that compassion requires patience and small sacrifices on our part but it is completely worth it because even though showing compassion does not magically make your troubles disappear, it at least ensures that you would never be left to handle them on your own.