On Being an Empath
I’m getting deeper into this world of astrology and I’ve also started to explore the broader realm spirituality a little more, mostly to figure out the “why” of things.
Sometimes I get around people and I get strong feelings about them, sometimes I don’t know why though. For example, I experienced this with GAM, with a person I was in an organization with, and more recently with a person at work.
It’s very strange, the person at work is really nice, but when they’re around, it makes me SO uncomfortable.
I’ve been looking around the internet recently to see if there was a name for people who feel people’s emotions and auras and thangs really strongly, and I’ve found out they are called empaths.
From about.com:
They are the listeners of life. Empathic persons are often problem solvers, thinkers, and studiers of many things. As far as they are concerned, where a problem is, so too is the answer. They often will search until they find one–if only for peace of mind.
Empaths are sensitive to TV, videos, movies, news and broadcasts. Violence or emotional dramas depicting shocking scenes of physical or emotional pain inflicted on adults, children or animals can bring them easily to tears. At times, they may feel physically ill or choke back the tears. Some empaths will struggle to comprehend any such cruelty, and will have grave difficulty in expressing themselves in the face of another’s ignorance, closed-mindedness and obvious lack of compassion. They simply cannot justify the suffering they feel and see.
Empaths have a tendency to openly feel what is outside of themselves more so than what is inside of them. This can cause them to ignore their own needs. Sometimes to their own detriment. Empaths can suffer and have all sorts of difficulties living their lives. Few people can understand what it’s like to be empathic. Most people have a certain sense of kindness and understanding but give consideration to themselves first which is probably the healthiest way to live.
Empaths do not put themselves first ever and suffer when their own needs conflict with the needs of others.
Empaths are often poets in motion. They are the born writers, singers, and artists with a high degree of creativity and imagination.
Seems pretty spot on to me. The characteristics of being an empath also explains why I’m uncomfortable around lots of people, and why I prefer to keep to myself rather than seek other people out to hang with. I’ve been reading this book to find out more about these abilities and how I can use them in a constructive way.
So far, I’ve learned that it’s an inherited trait. I’m definitely sure I got it from my mother. She used to be a social worker. Every day, when she got off of work, she’d sit in her car and cry…and sometimes be physically sick from all the situations she dealt with while at work. She’s also a MAGNET for animals…like she doesn’t particularly like them, but somehow random animals like snakes, bobcats (!), dogs, and cats, are always drawn to her…all qualities of an empath…
We’ll see how it goes.
