The old ones tell us that the key to effective empathy is responsibility and boundaries. When we get a sense of what’s not feeling good, we have to realistically evaluate if we’re in a position—and willing—to take responsibility for it. People who are highly empathetic often get burned by ungrateful people and burned out by helping too much. The key is to determine the best use of our energy and then set a limit on it. It’s a big world with a lot of pain and suffering, so let’s do what we can in a responsible way so we can do as much good as possible.
