Are you a spiritual empathic soul like myself? Can you feel everything at such an intensity that its made you cripple to your knees in tears, made you laugh so hard that you pulled a muscle, fall in love so deeply you lost your self, or even felt such lightness you were on floating amoungst clouds? Are you also able to tell a situations vibe and know how to shift it or point out to others feelings before they have even attuned to it?
Well darling, it sounds like you might be an Empathic! Which is great because you are able to feel extreme highs and lows, of not only your self but others you surround yourself with. Which gives you a life truly full of heart felt feelings and emotion. You also have a gift that not a lot of people will be able to relate to. Now what is an empathic? Well it comes from the word empathy, which by Merriam-Websters definition is: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner. Intense right? Like who wants the responsibility and the knowing of how others feel, when you already are dealing with your own emotions!
Luckily in the field work that I do as a Reiki Master practitioner/White Witch Healer this actually works to my benefit as when I’m working with clients I’m able to sense what the person is feeling. I feel my clients emotions, energetic blocks, body discomforts at such a level that it works very efficient and benefits my clients during their session. Giving them a deeper knowledge or insight on what they might be avoiding for their own growth. Though this didn’t come without some trail and error. I’ve been fine tuning this sensitivity since birth and am finally getting the hang of it, though I have had my fair share of slip ups or how I better like to call them “learning curves”. There are times when even I become overwhelmed, can’t tell whats my emotions and whats someone else’s, or even hit such lows that my thoughts hit a very dark spot. Scary I know, but don’t worry this is why I felt the need to write this post! After my last breakup I hit a low again…literally last night, le sigh. I cried from 4pm- 10am the next morning because I was feeling such despair, anger and grief. I gave myself up completely to my last partner that when I tried dating again I soon realized that I wasn’t ready. My heart has and is still very much healing, and I had absolutely nothing to give to another. So depleted I had to step back and get back to what helps me fill my cup again as a very sensitive spiritual and empathic soul.
So this is a entry to all my spiritual empathic souls out there who has or have been feeling overwhelmed at any point and doesn’t know how to deal with the intense emotions that others will never truly understand unless felt. A “How-To” get back in tune to your energy, your emotions and feeling whole again. I’m also going to leave my comments open if there is anything you’d like to share that work for you as an empathic on getting back to balance!
Step 1
FEEL YOUR FEELINGS! Cry if you have to cry, get angry if you need to throw something do (though maybe avoid people, and things that could break!). Whatever you need to, to feel, do! When you’re an empathic this is such an important step to take in making sure that you are staying healthy. Hence why this is step number one. The very last thing you should do is hold it in, this is the worst thing to do as an empathic! Your body will just store the emotion in the body and will have negative effects if not released properly. Though I understand if you aren’t in the right time or place to process your emotions. So if you have to keep it together until you have a safe place then that’s ok, just make sure you do!
Step 2
This brings up to step 2: Retreat! The only way that I’m able to know what is my feelings and what is someone else’s is the fact that I take the time to completely separate myself from everyone around me. Retreating whether in your room, in nature alone, a quite moment in a corner or the washroom if you’re at work, or to completely retreating to traveling. If you’re constantly around people it is very hard to tune into yourself and begin to realize whats yours and whats others. So its ok take the time to retreat, its not being selfish its being taking care of your self. Self love is sometimes something as small as taking a moment for yourself.
Step 3
Now this last step I’m suggesting is Yoga. The reason I believe that yoga is important for empathic’s is for the body. From experience, when you have a strong yoga practice (talking more towards the Asana practice) you are able to fine tune what body pains are yours. If you’re a true and very strong empathic you might unknowing pick up the pains and hurt from others. For instance your talking to someone who is complainning about back pain and all of a sudden you feel as if you have the same back pain, this is taking on someones physical energy. I’ve heard (is common amoungst empathic’s) of cases where people have taken on someone else’s pain. In doing so the empathic thinks they are heping the other, but it is quiet the opposite as this is their pain, their journey and it’s not for you to take on. This isn’t healthy boundaries set up for you or the other person and will end up hurting you both more in the long run. So I suggest yoga to get attune with your body to know what physical pain is yours and what is someone else’s. Once you regonize what is someone else’s energy or pain you are feeling all you have to do is acknowledge it, thank it, and tell it that it has no place in your body and it may leave. Step 3 get attune with your body through yoga or any other way that you believe help fine tune your sensitivity.
Being a Spiritually Sensitive Empathic individual is a beautiful gift that allows you to connect with others in such a raw, deep and authentic way. Never see it as a burden but as a chance to learn, grow and feel the full spectrum of human emotions. Would love to hear how anyone else deals with being empathic in the comments below! All the love my fellow sensitive souls!
Warmly,
TWW