It’s really the difference between true empathy and sympathy/compassion. With emotional empathy, one can feel what others feel, and to your point, letting the energy flow through you is the key. Sympathy is seeing the other person’s situation from our own perspective, thus applying our emotional framework to another’s situation. Compassion is about jumping in the boat to try to fix their leak! It literally means “to suffer with”.

Empathy is at a higher energetic level than sympathy or compassion, and it seems that many empaths must be very aware of their tendency to go the lower energy level. I’ve seen this with some clients, and it does cause them consternation. My 2 cents.