WHO IS AN EMPATH?
Empaths are often poets in motion. They are the born
writers, singers, and artists with a high degree of
creativity and imagination. They are known for many
talents as their interests are varied, broad and
continual, loving, loyal and humorous. They often have
interests in many cultures and view them with a
broad-minded perspective. They are mother, father,
child, friend, nurse, caregiver, teacher, doctor, sales
people... to psychic, clairvoyant, healer, etc. (That
is not to say that any of these categories are all
empaths.) The list is extensive and really unimportant.
It is more important to notice that empaths are
everywhere--in every culture and throughout the world.
One of the most obvious places for empathic connection
is within the parent/child/family bonds. Mothers show
recognizable signs of empathy in the early days of
conception and this rapidly increases after birth.
Children are often mirroring the feelings and thoughts
of their parents and siblings because they are
empathically “in tune�?with them and exposed to them on
a daily basis. It is wonderful for children to grow up
with “aware�?parents for the children are less likely to
suppress their abilities and accept their natural
talents.
Empaths are often very affectionate in personality and
expression, great listeners and counselors (and not just
in the professional area). They will find themselves
helping others and often putting their own needs aside
to do so. In the same breath, they can be much the
opposite. They may be quiet, withdrawn from the outside
world, loners, depressed, neurotic, life’s daydreamers,
or even narcissistic.
They are most often passionate towards nature and
respect its bountiful beauty. One will often find
empaths enjoying the outdoors, beaches, walking, etc.
Empaths may find themselves continually drawn to nature
as a form of release. It is the opportune place to
recapture their senses and gain a sense of peace in the
hectic lives they may live. The time to get away from
it all and unwind with nature becomes essential to the
empath. Animals are often dear to the heart of empaths,
not as a power object, but as a natural love. It is not
uncommon for empaths to have more than one pet in their
homes. They are born veterinarians and animal
caretakers.
Empaths make great friends for life, but are crushed if
the friendship is abused. Over time, they will become
far more selective. Though they may have a large circle
of friends, they generally only have a few “close�?ones.
Others unfortunately become jealous because of the many
talents, loving nature and natural ability of empaths to
get on with many people. The jealousy will hurt an
empath, as they really cannot comprehend this behavior
or lack of compassionate understanding. When this
occurs in an empath's life, it is a sign that more
self-awareness is being called for, so that the empath
themselves can overcome being hurt by the negative
aspects of others.
TRAITS OF AN EMPATH
Empaths are often quiet achievers and not ones to brag
about their talents and interests. They can take a
while to handle a compliment for they're more inclined
to point out another’s positive attributes. They are
highly expressive in all areas of emotional connection,
and talk openly, and, at times, quite frankly in respect
to themselves. They may have few problems talking about
their feelings if another cares to listen (regardless of
how much they like to listen to others).
However, they can be the exact opposite: reclusive and
apparently unresponsive at the best of times. They may
even appear ignorant. Some are very good at “blocking
out�?others and that’s not always a bad thing, at least
for the learning empath struggling with a barrage of
emotions from others, as well as their own feelings.
Empaths have a tendency to openly feel what is outside
of them more so than what is inside of them. This can
cause empaths to ignore their own needs. In general an
empath is non-violent, non-aggressive and leans more
towards being the peacemaker. Any area filled with
disharmony creates an uncomfortable feeling in an
empath. If they find themselves in the middle of a
confrontation, they will endeavor to settle the
situation as quickly as possible, if not avoid it all
together. If any harsh words are expressed in defending
themselves, they will likely resent their lack of
self-control, and have a preference to peacefully
resolve the problem quickly.
Empaths are more inclined to pick up another’s feelings
and project it back without realizing its origin in the
first place. Talking things out is a major factor in
releasing emotions in the more aware empath. Empaths
can develop an even stronger degree of understanding so
that they can find peace in most situations. The
downside is that empaths may bottle up emotions and
build barriers sky-high so as to not let others know of
their innermost thoughts and/or feelings. This
withholding of emotional expression can be a direct
result of a traumatic experience, an expressionless
upbringing, or simply being told as a child, "Children
are meant to be seen and not heard!"
Without a doubt, this emotional withholding can be
detrimental to one’s health, for the longer one’s
thoughts and/or emotions aren't released, the more power
they build. The thoughts and/or emotions can eventually
becoming explosive, if not crippling. The need to
express oneself honestly is a form of healing. To not
do so can result in a breakdown of Mind, Body and Soul
and result in mental/emotional instability or the
creation of a physical ailment, illness or disease.
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 an empath
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. (It takes a great deal of
understanding and self-awareness to be more accepting of
the harsher realities of life.)
You will find empaths working with people, animals or
nature with a true passion and dedication to help them.
They are often tireless teachers and/or caretakers for
our environment and all within it. Many volunteers are
empathic and give up personal time to help others
without pay and/or recognition.
Empaths may be excellent storytellers of fantasy and
reality due to an endless imagination, inquisitive minds
and ever-expanding knowledge. They can be old
romantics at heart and very gentle. They are also
likely to be the “keepers�?of ancestral knowledge and
family history. If not the obvious family historians,
they may be the ones who listen to the stories passed
down and possess the majority of the family history.
Not surprisingly, they may have started or possess a
family tree.
They have a broad interest in music to suit their many
expressive temperaments, and others can query how
empaths can listen to one style of music, and within
minutes, change to something entirely different. Lyrics
within a song can have adverse, powerful effects on
empaths, especially if it is relevant to a recent
experience. In these moments, it is advisable for
empaths to listen to music without lyrics, to avoid
playing havoc with their emotions!
They are just as expressive with body language as with
words, thoughts, and feelings. Their creativity is
often expressed through dance, acting, and bodily
movements. Empaths can project an incredible amount of
energy portraying and/or releasing emotion. Empaths can
become lost in the music, to the point of being in a
trance-like state; they become one with the music
through the expression of their physical bodies. They
describe this feeling as a time when all else around
them is almost non-existent.
People of all walks of life and animals are attracted to
the warmth and genuine compassion of empaths.
Regardless of whether others are aware of one being
empathic, people are drawn to them as a metal object is
to a magnet! They are like “beacons of light�?
Even complete strangers find it easy to talk to empaths
about the most personal things, and before they know it,
they have poured out their hearts and souls without
intending to do so consciously. It is as though on a
sub-conscious level that person knows instinctively that
empaths would listen with compassionate understanding.
Then again, for empaths, it is always nice to actually
be heard themselves!
Here are the listeners of life. They can be outgoing,
bubbly, enthusiastic and a joy to be in the presence of,
as well as highly humorous at the most unusual moments!
On the flip side, empaths can be weighted with mood
swings that will have others around them want to jump
overboard and abandon ship! The thoughts and feelings
empaths receive from any and all in their life can be so
overwhelming (if not understood) that their moods can
fluctuate with lightning speed. One moment they may be
delightfully happy and with a flick of the switch,
miserable.
Abandoning an empath in the throes of alternating moods
can create detrimental effects. A simple return of
empathic love--listening and caring compassionately
without bias, judgment and/or condemnation--can go an
incredibly long way to an empath's instant recovery.
Many empaths don't understand what is occurring within
them. They literally have no idea that another person’s
emotions are now felt, as one’s own and reflected
outwardly. They are confused as to how one moment all
was well, and then the next, they feel so depressed,
alone, etc. The need to understand the possibilities of
empath connection is a vital part of the empaths journey
for themselves and for those around them.
Empaths are often problem solvers, thinkers, and
studiers of many things. As far as empaths 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. This can certainly prove beneficial for
others in their relationships, in the workplace, or on
the home front. Where there is a will, there is a way
and the empath will find it. The empath can literally
(likely without the knowledge of what’s actually
occurring) tap into Universal Knowledge and be receptive
to guidance in solving anything they put their head and
hearts into.
Empaths often are vivid and/or lucid dreamers. They can
dream in detail and are inquisitive of dream content.
Often they feel as though the dreams are linked to their
physical life somehow, and not just a mumble of
nonsensical, irrelevant, meaningless images. This
curiosity will lead many empathic dreamers to unravel
some of the “mysterious�?dream contents from an early
age and connect the interpretation to its relevance in
their physical life. If not, they may be led to dream
interpretations through other means.
Empaths are daydreamers with difficulty keeping focused
on the mundane. If life isn't stimulating, off an
empath will go into a detached state of mind. They will
go somewhere, anywhere, in a thought that appears
detached from the physical reality, yet is alive and
active for they really are off and away. If a tutor is
lecturing with little to no emotional input, empaths
will not be receptive to such teaching and can
(unintentionally) drift into a state of daydreaming.
Give the empath student the tutor who speaks with
stimuli and emotion (through actual experience of any
given subject) and the empath is receptively alert.
Empaths are a captivated audience. This same principle
applies in acting. An actor will either captivate the
audience through expressing (in all aspects) emotions
(as though they really did experience the role they are
portraying) or will loose them entirely. Empaths make
outstanding actors.
Empaths frequently experience déjà vu and
synchronicities. What may initially start as, "Oh, what
a coincidence", will lead to the understanding of
synchronicities as an aspect of who they are. These
synchronicities will become a welcomed and continually
expanding occurrence. As an understanding of self
grows, the synchronicities become more fluent and free
flowing. The synchronicities can promote a feeling of
euphoria as empaths identify with them and appreciate
the connection to their empathic nature.
Empaths are most likely to have had varying psychic
experiences throughout their lives. NDE's (Near death
experiences) and or OBE's (Out of body experiences) can
catapult an unaware empath into the awakening period and
provide the momentum for a journey of discovery. Those
who get caught up in life, in society’s often dictating
ways, in work etc., can become lost in a mechanical way
of living that provides very little meaning. All “signs
of guidance�?are ignored to shift out of this state of
“doing�? It may appear as if Divine intervention were
necessary to shake one out of that “doing�?and into
“being�? A path to being whole again becomes evident
and a search for more meaning in one’s life begins.
These types of experiences appear dramatic, can be
life-altering indeed, and are most assuredly just as
intensely memorable in years to come. They are the
voice of empathic guidance encouraging us to pursue our
journey in awareness. Sometimes, some of us require
that extra assistance!
For some empaths, the lack of outside understanding
towards the psychic events they experience, may lead to
suppressing such abilities. (Most of these abilities
are very natural and not a coincidence.), Empaths may
unknowingly adopt the positive or negative attitude of
others as their own. (This, however, can be overcome.)
Empaths may need to follow interests in the paranormal
and the unexplained with curiosity so as to explain and
accept their life circumstances. Not surprisingly,
empaths may find participating in groups helpful to
prove that such occurrences are not fiction and to
benefit from sharing the experiences with like minds.
(Note: while empaths can find groups extremely helpful,
they need to be aware that they can be subject to the
emotions of other group members.)
Psychics, spiritual healers, clairvoyants often appear
to be the ones who are more inclined to know more in
regards to empathy and telepathy. However, that is not
strictly defined for it varies in the individual.
author unknown
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 
Return to Empaths/Empathy