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How can overly empathetic/sympathetic people compete in this world? Do they eventually end up jaded and bitter?
The saying goes "nice guys finish last". I interpret that "nice" means overly empathetic/sympathetic people who sacrifice themselves for others happiness. Kindness seems to be a sign of weakness in that saying, as though people prey on those kind-hearted people. If it were true, then how do kind people compete in this world? Is it some kind of evolutionary Yin and Yang, where a balance of certain personalities need to exist for progress to happen or do people have peaks and troughs of kindness in them?
Update: Thought I'd share a fascinating article found in the comments below:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/marcia-sirota/too-nice_b_946956.html
It is about the differences between being nice and being kind.
Closing Statement from Derek Young
Thank you all for your well thought comments. I have learned a lot and I hope you've all taken some knowledge from this as well.
Be mindful of those around you and tread lightly on the paths made by your brothers and sisters of humankind.
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Kieron Treasure
Where you end up happiness wise is up to the individual and is not quantifiable nor should it be comparable.
Just be awarewho you are dealing with.
Colleen Steen 500+
The first person we are "dealing with" is our "self". So it is important to "Know thyself", as well as knowing the "other" person as much as possible. Having genuine compassion/empathy for ourselves, helps the process of reaching out to others with authentic/genuine compassion and empathy.