[serloco]

1. I am very empathic when it comes to other people's feelings. I can almost feel them as if they were my own. Its like even in someones post the energy is there and I can see it and feel it. It actually has brought me to tears reading some of the sad, upset posts that are here. At the same time i feel happy that people who are in such pain can reach out and that there is a place that is free to do that. There are so many kind people here too, and I see that some of them have great empathic ability. I think it is not only the ability to feel what someone else is feeling but also the ability to cope and handle those feelings. Both in yourself and who you are feeling, sensing. I think the process of feelings is very beautiful to observe and learn of, to experience. Going a little deeper i see that empathy involves the ability to express and recognize your feelings. Some of the greatest artists can express emotion into their works because of their empathic ability. So I guess i will give a holler out to all the empathic people here, and a thank you for being such good listeners.

[the sad queen]

i dont know how but sometimes i feel and imagine what people feel and think about just by reading what they wrote, not that only i feel like i am the one whose writing.
i think my handicraft and the songs i write reflects my empathy with people, myself and how i feel.

[IndieVisible]

I am empathetic for real when I can compare it to some thing that happened to me, otherwise for me it's usually mostly cognitive but if I can relate to the experience because it happened to me once I can be affective.

I suggest reading this piece that covers empathy in great detail! Very good read!

[lostincornflakes]

I'm very empathic! When I was working I worked in construction, specifically the swimming pool industry. I worked in scheduling and it required a lot of day to day communication w both customers and sub contractors. I was very good at it and I went above and beyond to make sure my customers were taken care of. I worked long hours even at night. I took calls from customers even at home. The reason I did all that was because I so empathic!

[bronzeowl]

I never know how to answer this question. I experience empathy. A lot in some situations (I must admit, my empathy toward animals or people who are experiencing the loss of an animal tends to be stronger). I feel empathy when I listen to sad stories or read messages online. However, I cannot express empathy. I've never really understood how to let people know I understand. I try with my words. I guess it's easier online. But offline, I always come across as the exact opposite of empathetic. I'm not sure, as such, that I agree that empathy can only be felt if you can express and understand your feelings. I cannot and yet, I feel empathy.

Well, if you count writing. I guess I can express them to a point. :P I still have trouble recognizing them.

[Dianerrs]

I'm extremely empathetic, unfortunately probably to the point where I'm taken advantage of because of it. When something really hits me (and it could be anything, from anywhere), it often stays with me for days. In some cases, I feel what that person is feeling as strongly as if they were my own feelings.

In confrontation, for example, and I always care more about finding out what motivates someone that being angry with them for attacking me. In comparison to the people around me, I do seem to be more understanding, sympathetic, and welcoming to the feelings of others. I'm driven to help others as much as I possibly can. If that means taking on more work and running myself down, I still find myself doing it, just to ease their burden.

Unfortunately, I usually find it impossible to express. As much as I want to reach out in those moments, I can never seem to find the proper words to.

Career-wise? I work in a coffee shop, and have worked in customer service my entire working life. Fast food. Restaurants. Places where the majority of employees seem to always have horrible experiences with customers. I've noticed that I seem to have a lot less of those confrontations, and see a lot less negativity in people. I'm pretty decent at resolving complaints, because I can easily empathize.

The other thing: Maybe it's me, and my sadness, but I find the world tainted with it, and I see it everywhere, in the faces of everyone. Sometimes, I get struck with the sense that someone is really sad, embarrassed, guilty, or just broken from the slightest movement or tone- I never know if it's real, or if I'm just projecting, and it's a complete head****. The best I can figure is that I should get myself in to a position where I can help as much as I can. It's not like I'm just going to stop being empathetic suddenly.

...did any of that make sense?

[-jimi-]

I know right from wrong the way I see it.

I readily help people, those I know and those I don't.

Still, I don't feel what they feel. I have about zero sympathy. Luckily empathy is not solely made up from a direct emotional response.

I can see things from other people's perspective and understand why they might feel/act etc. the way they do and so I come across as understanding (I hope)...but I don't really feel what other people are feeling and about some things I'm just not that sympathetic. So I guess you can say I'm non-judgmental and understanding, but not really empathetic.