Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, providing support and understanding. It involves compassion and a genuine desire to help. On the other hand, encouraging a self-destructive mindset involves promoting or reinforcing negative thoughts and behaviors that harm oneself. It lacks understanding and fails to address the underlying issues. While empathy seeks to uplift and empower, encouraging a self-destructive mindset can perpetuate harmful patterns and hinder personal growth.