What is empathy meaning and example?

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It involves being able to recognize and understand the emotions of another person, and to respond to them in a compassionate way. Essentially, empathy is about putting yourself in someone else's shoes and seeing the world from their perspective.

For example, imagine that your friend has just lost their job. Instead of dismissing their feelings or trying to convince them that everything will be okay, you acknowledge the pain and uncertainty they are experiencing. With empathy, you might say something like, "I'm so sorry that you're going through this. Losing a job can be really tough. How are you feeling right now?" By demonstrating empathy, you are showing your friend that you care about their experience and are willing to listen and support them through a difficult time.