Empathy is often hailed as a cornerstone of human connection, a quality that softens the edges of an otherwise harsh world. It drives us to listen, to comfort, and to stand by those we care about, even when they falter. Yet, beneath its warm glow lies a potential pitfall—what begins as a gesture of kindness can spiral into something more troubling. When empathy blinds us to reality or props up destructive patterns, it risks enabling harm rather than healing it. Take, for instance, the struggle of loving someone caught in addiction: the instinct to help can clash with the chaos they create, leaving us to wonder where compassion ends and complicity begins. This isn’t a call to abandon empathy, but a reminder that even the best intentions need boundaries to truly serve those we love—and ourselves.

Read More