Neuroscientist Richard Davidson reminds us that there is an important difference between compassion and empathy:
EMPATHY: Our ability to feel what others feel.
COMPASSION: It is a state superior to empathy, because it is when, as a result of feeling such empathy, we try to alleviate the suffering of others in an active and concrete way. Compassion is such a practical emotion that it activates the motor zone of the brain.
EMPATHY AND COMPASSION ACTIVATE TWO DIFFERENT BRAIN CIRCUITS!
EMPATHY = FEEL
COMPASSION = FEEL + DO
Empathy is therefore a touchstone for relating to the rest of the world, but compassion goes one step further because it invites us to get down to business and actively help others.