• About
  • Professional musings

Courting the Muses

~ Writings of Elizabeth A. Katz

Courting the Muses

Monthly Archives: January 2016

Empathy: Good or bad …. black or white?

10 Sunday Jan 2016

Posted by lizscribe24 in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Have you ever felt carried along by the tide of emotions? I feel that way all the time. You might characterize me as emotionally sensitive. That can be good. And that can also be tricky sometimes, when it comes to ranking high on the empathy scale.

According to Merriam Webster, my go-to source when I want to know the nuances of words (and that’s a favorite pastime for me!), empathy is defined as ‘the feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions: the ability to share someone else’s feelings.’

When is empathy appropriate? Inappropriate? Are ‘appropriate’ or ‘inappropriate’ the right words to use? Can we really know what people are feeling if they don’t share their feelings with us? How much are our own feelings a form of projection or transference?

Are there certain people for whom we shouldn’t feel empathy towards? Criminals? Mean people? People you don’t care for, for whatever reason? Should empathy be black or white? Should we have empathy for everyone simply because they are human? Should it be dictated by the situation?

Continue reading →

Advertisement

Blogs I Follow

  • Patience Bloom
  • Thought Catalog
  • wordfromthewell
  • The Pema Chodron Foundation
  • zen habits
  • Debra Darvick
  • The Pioneer Woman
  • Lynne Cobb
  • Vivian DeGain Better at 50 Blog

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9 other subscribers

Archives

  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2018
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015

  • lizscribe24

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Patience Bloom

Tales and tips from a writer and book editor

Thought Catalog

Thought Catalog is a digital youth culture magazine dedicated to your stories and ideas.

wordfromthewell

Wake up.

The Pema Chodron Foundation

Writings of Elizabeth A. Katz

zen habits

Writings of Elizabeth A. Katz

Debra Darvick

Writings of Elizabeth A. Katz

The Pioneer Woman

Plowing through Life in the Country...One Calf Nut at a Time

Lynne Cobb

Mid-life Random Ramblings...

Vivian DeGain Better at 50 Blog

Columnist and arts writer

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Courting the Muses
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Courting the Muses
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar