Sympathy and empathy are often confused, but are distinctly different. Sympathy is a feeling one has in common with another. Empathy is being able to understand the feelings of another, regardless of whether one feels the same way.

If we can empathize with others… if we can imagine their perspective based on their personal beliefs, education, and circumstances - without needing to agree entirely with their perspective - we can find more in common than we might expect.