Compassion or Empathy

What is it we need the most. You often hear the phrase. Show some compassion

Well something happened this morning and I found myself telling someone.. geesh show a alittle compassion.. She had stated I don’t need friendly compassion and caring
I need help. The whole thing got me thinking. How do we help others the most. I remember a teacher in school constantly telling us that to show empathy was the most helpful thing. My mothers line when I was a child and talking about someone else was. You can’t talk until you have worked in their shoes.


Well
Compassion is defined as a desire to alleviate or reduce the suffering of another. We all know that we can’t physically do that with our friends or collegues that are suffering some chronic illness or anyother painful issue

Empathy is defined as one's ability to recognize, perceive and feel directly the emotions. Empathy is often characterized as the ability to "put oneself into another's shoes". So maybe my mom was right. If we try and put ourselves in their shoes we can see what it is they are troubled with or needing help with.

Maybe a mixture of both …..what do you think??