Lena Cebula
Lena Cebula
Empathy VS Sympathy
Empathy VS Sympathy
Empathy VS Sympathy
Tuesday 25th November 2025
Explore the difference between empathy and sympathy with Lena Cebula and Shirley Thiessen as they discuss grief support and healing.
48 minutes
Inspiring
Supportive
Healing
Compassionate
Encouraging
About this podcast
Author:
Lena Cebula
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Categories:
Empowering Recovery Journeys
Healing from Sexual Trauma
Healing Relationships
Sobriety Success Stories
Entrepreneurship for Personal Growth
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Get the buttons here!Empathy vs Sympathy: Bridging the Gap in Grief
Episode Overview
- Empathy involves actively helping to carry someone's burden.
- Listening is a powerful tool in supporting those who grieve.
- Acknowledging loss openly can be comforting to the bereaved.
- Prayer offers spiritual support and healing during grief.
- Being patiently present shows ongoing care and support.
Empathy is actually saying, 'How can I help carry this burden of loss with you?'
What makes empathy and sympathy so different, and why does it matter? In this episode of Love&BLoved, Lena Cebula chats with Shirley Thiessen, a grief advocate on a mission to ensure no one grieves alone. Shirley shares her personal journey of losing her son and how she learned to navigate the complexities of grief with faith and support.
Her story is a powerful testament to the strength found in community and the healing that comes from sharing your burdens with others. Shirley introduces an acronym, LAPP, which stands for Listen, Acknowledge, Pray, and Patiently be Present, offering practical ways to show empathy to those experiencing loss. Through heartfelt anecdotes and spiritual insights, Shirley emphasises the importance of being a 'hope hero' and how simple acts of kindness can make God's love visible to those who are hurting.
Lena also shares her own experiences with loss and the contrasting ways grief was handled within different communities, highlighting the peace and hope found in faith. This episode is a touching reminder that while grief is deeply personal, it doesn't have to be faced alone. Whether you're supporting someone through a tough time or experiencing it yourself, there's comfort in knowing you're not alone. So, what role can you play in someone else's healing journey?