Activation is followed by feeling and action (kamma). The general advice is to give attention to “how I’m feeling” rather than “what I’m going to do about it”. This is a relational approach: not to try to feel a certain kind of feeling, but just know how I’m feeling, how I’m being affected. Empathy is being with the feeling without being triggered, and reactive. This is the practice of kindness, compassion and equanimity – at the most long-term level.