To be empathetic means to have the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It involves perceiving another person's perspective, feeling what they are feeling, and responding with care and understanding. Empathy encompasses both emotional resonance (feeling what someone else feels) and cognitive understanding (intellectually grasping another's emotions or perspective). Being empathetic often means putting oneself in someone else's shoes to appreciate their experience and emotions deeply.
Empathy is more than just feeling sorry for someone; it's about truly connecting with their emotional state without losing sight of the differences between self and other. It can lead to compassionate actions and better interpersonal relationships.