In a delightful article, Stern and Divecha discuss the common struggle of caring to the point of getting lost in the pain of another. Perhaps you know someone who believes s/he is responsible to fix other people’s problems or worries. Or perhaps s/he becomes weighed down because of a conviction that it is unfathomable to be happy when a loved one is in pain. This article will help people know that they are not alone, clarifies the differences between sympathy, empathy, and compassion, and provide some helpful tips to try. I have one caveat: they mention that compassion is a slightly more removed experience where one is able to offer assistance. Compassion does not have to include an intervening action. Many wise minds highlight that struggles are great teachers. We learn about our patterns, develop new understandings of life, and grow in our skills. Sometimes, the greatest thing we can do is be with someone as they work through something difficult. With that said, please enjoy: http://www.mindful.org/how-to-avoid-the-empathy-trap/