Most of us have heard, and maybe even used, the term "fake it till you make it." I think that applies here, too. I don't see the article as saying you can fake empathy, but that you can promote empathy even when you don't really have it. This way, not only is the person being truly helped by your response, but inwardly you are changing and learning how to be empathic. I don't follow Oprah's belief system, but God's, however this is pretty close to good truth, imo.