Empathy vs Sympathy

Main Entry: em·pa·thy Pronunciation: 'em-p&-thEFunction: nounEtymology: Greek empatheia, literally, passion, from empathEs emotional, from em- + pathos feelings, emotion -- more at PATHOS1 : the imaginative projection of a subjective state into an object so that the object appears to be infused with it2 : the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also : the capacity for this

Main Entry: sym·pa·thy Pronunciation: 'sim-p&-thEFunction: nounInflected Form(s): plural -thiesEtymology: Latin sympathia, from Greek sympatheia, from sympathEs having common feelings, sympathetic, from syn- + pathos feelings, emotion, experience -- more at PATHOS1 a : an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other b : mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by it c : unity or harmony in action or effect2 a : inclination to think or feel alike : emotional or intellectual accord b : feeling of loyalty : tendency to favor or support 3 a : the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another b : the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity 4 : the correlation existing between bodies capable of communicating their vibrational energy to one another through some mediumsynonym see ATTRACTION, PITY

The reasoning for the above Webster dictionary online entries is spawned by a long twelve hour shift and the difference of opinion. It was all sparked by a certain employee who feels as if their presences is not needed in a critical staffing moment especially when they feel cheated out of what they feel is owed them such as not working. This certain somebody is someone we all have in our jobs they call in and go home sick 3 out of 4 shifts. I suggested an invervention for this person. They need to really understand from their peers how their behavior is affecting their peers as well as their own performance. Of course this brought about hearty laughter and I was labeled a sympathizer, an enabler. I beg to differ; my collegues are confusing empathy with sympathy. I believe in holding people accountable but I also believe that we are all inheirently good and sometimes we need to as a whole to become infused with one another in idea and goal not necessarily believe and support one emotionally but objectively. Stealing a quote most commonly heard in twelve step progams, "If not by the grace of God there go I". Folks that is not sympathy.

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