| Empaths have a natural ability to sense not only their | | | | will have to "defend" yourself for the rest of your life. |
| own but also the emotions of others. This innate skill | | | | How exhausting does that sound? |
| can be observed in babies. This ability usually subsides | | | | My work is result-based: if it works, keep doing it! As |
| in childhood as we learn to focus more on verbal cues | | | | an Empath, these are the 3 tools I find most effective |
| than emotional ones. | | | | to manage the flow of emotional information I receive |
| But for some people, the flow of emotional information | | | | constantly. Try them out and see for yourself which |
| just keeps coming. This can lead to powerful internal | | | | one works best for you. |
| conflicts as they pick up incoherent verbal and | | | | - Being Transparent:When we feel threatened by our |
| emotional messages from people (such as when | | | | surroundings, we become physically tense and our our |
| someone lies or suppresses anger). It can also quickly | | | | energy field (the magnetic field that wraps around our |
| become overwhelming in social settings where the | | | | body) becomes dense and constricted. |
| sheer quantity of emotional information can be too | | | | When you notice this tension, imagine that your energy |
| much to handle. | | | | field is expanding, like a gas. The particles are getting |
| Emotional Intelligence is defined as "the ability, capacity, | | | | more and more spaced out, making your energy field |
| or skill to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions | | | | thinner and much bigger. As your energy field |
| of one's self, of others, and of groups" (Salovey and | | | | becomes looser, emotions go right through you, like a |
| Mayer, 1990). Developing your Emotional Intelligence | | | | rock falling through water. Instead of being caught in |
| means that you have tools and processes to manage | | | | your dense energy field, the emotions of others will |
| this emotional data. | | | | simply flow through you. |
| Are you an Empath? | | | | - Adjust the Volume: Sometimes the noise from other |
| | | | people's emotions gets so loud that we can't hear |
| 1. Do you feel anxious or nervous in a crowd (4+ | | | | ourselves think! We get confused, hesitant, frustrated. |
| people)? | | | | Close your eyes and imagine two volume dials in front |
| 2. Does your mood vary seemingly at random (getting | | | | of you that go from 0 to 10. One says "Me" and the |
| angry or sad for no apparent reason) | | | | other says "Everything else". Turn the "Me" dial to 10, |
| 3. Do you feel a change in your physical energy level | | | | and the "Everything else" dial to 0. Instantly, your mind |
| when you're in a crowd (tired, wired) | | | | will respond to this request and the chatter will calm |
| 4. Do you have a hard time falling asleep before | | | | down. |
| midnight or do you procrastinate going to bed? | | | | - Progressive Affirmations: Progressive affirmations |
| 5. Do you have physical symptoms that related to | | | | can help you build up to where you want to be. Keep |
| hearing (ringing, popping, itching in the ear)? | | | | in mind that affirmations must ALWAYS feel good in |
| 6. Do you feel emotionally uncomfortable when | | | | order to be effective. So start at the "easiest" |
| someone touches or is close to you? | | | | affirmation and say it for a few days. When you feel |
| Disclaimer: This checklist is not a diagnostic nor | | | | ready, move on to the next level for a few days until |
| treatment tool. Some of the characteristics of | | | | you can say the "top" affirmation while feeling good. |
| Empaths can be diagnosed as ADD, agoraphobia or | | | | 1. "I am willing to master my Empath abilities" |
| clinical depression. Contact your health care | | | | 2. "I am ready to master my Empath abilities" |
| professional if you have any questions, need diagnostic | | | | 3. "I am choosing to master my Empath abilities" |
| or treatment for a mental health issue. | | | | Keep in mind that practice makes perfect. Try doing it |
| Empath Resources | | | | in your head before you throw yourself in a tough |
| Fortunately, there are more and more online resources | | | | situation (such as the mall or a party). |
| available for Empaths. Unfortunately, most of these | | | | Once you are comfortably managing your Empath |
| resources suggest a process that is likely to make | | | | skills, you are ready to move on and develop your |
| things worst for you! Any kind of "protective mental | | | | Emotional Intelligence by productively using emotional |
| shield" is based on the assumption that emotional | | | | data in your daily life. |
| information is threatening. If you go down that path, you | | | | |