Comparisons pitting empathy against sympathy frequently claim that empathy wins over sympathy. Some claim sympathy is pity, while empathy is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. When I pit the two against each other, I come down to my usual two answers: “it depends” and “everything in balance.”

If you find that the emotions of others eclipse your own feelings, you may be harming yourself and not helping others. Reining in empathy is crucial to maintaining your emotional well-being and genuinely supporting others.