How do you define empathy?

Do you put yourself in that person’s place, literally? I do. If it is a Tsunami, I imagine being there in those persons shoes. I imagine what I would think and feel as I see the water gushing. I imagine feeling hopelessly helpless as I see my loved ones being carried away. I imagine gasping for breath and drowning and I.don’t.like.it.one.bit. That is why I absolutely do not like empathising with others. I absolutely hate it!