What is an "Empath?" - Part 1

In this three-part series, I will share my discoveries of understanding my own empath journey and what the "30 Traits of an Empath" means to me. I have broken this down into three parts so that it is easier to process and understand for yourself.

If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to email me here.

Being an empath, especially in today's world can feel especially challenging.

As an empath, you feel your own moods, feelings, and emotions, as well as those of others around you, on a deeply, cellular level. You know what others are thinking and feeling even before they realize it.

It's almost as though you can "read minds."

If you have this ability, it’s almost hard to explain to others.

Being an empath can feel like both a blessing and a curse. As with anything, awareness is key. Once I discovered this about myself, everything made so much more sense. It was only about 5 or 6 years ago that someone said to me "How long have you known you were an empath?" I had no clue what that meant.

And down the rabbit hole I fell into researching what it means to be an empath and what exactly did that mean for me.

Along the way in my research, the same list kept coming up over and over. It was the 30 most common traits of an empath.

1. We just know stuff: We do this without being told. I have had many friends ask me about my own ability to do this. "How in the hell did you know that?" It's one of the hardest things to explain to people who are not empaths. They are usually shocked, amazed, and more than likely uncomfortable on some level.
2. We get overwhelmed in public: We can feel other people's emotions. Being in a crowd can cause us to absorb a lot of emotional energy from all of those around us. It can be very exhausting and draining.
3. We feel and take on other's emotions as our own: This is probably one of the biggest things for empaths. We can feel other people's feelings, even from afar. We know when something is not right. We somehow know when to check in on a friend who is having a hard time.
4. We can find watching violence or cruelty on TV shows or in movies to be unbearable: Those damn ASPCA commercials get me every time. Also, the website doesthedogdie.com will be an empath's best friend. It alerts you to all potential triggers in TV shows and movies. It's okay to set firm boundaries around reading and watching news media. I stopped watching the news years ago. I am still able to stay very informed.
5. We know when someone is being dishonest: We can read people, very easily. we have very high bullshit detectors. This can be very painful and awkward when you know someone is lying and you need to call them out and set boundaries for yourself.
6. We can pick up physical symptoms from others: we get very high sympathy pains, especially with those close to us. This can also happen from a distance, which rules out "being contagious."
7. We are prone to digestive problems and lower back pain: We hold most of our emotions in the center of our abdominal area. We have very strong neurotransmitters there that are similar to the ones in our brain. Empaths, myself most definitely included, feel the onslaught of emotions here. It happens with our own emotions and absorbing emotions from others. This can lead to stomach ulcers, IBS, and numerous other "gut related" ailments. Lower back problems can often result from absorbing negative energy, feeling ungrounded, and carrying the additional "weight" of emotions.
8. We are always looking out for the underdog: Empaths are compassionate and caring people. We are often drawn to those who are suffering. We can feel their pain and seek to help them find healing.
9. Everyone wants to share their problems with you, even strangers: This one happens to me all the time, especially in grocery stores. People can seem to sense an empath's compassionate nature and energy. They then want to dump their problems into our laps. This is where we have to be strong with setting boundaries for ourselves and not take on other's emotional energy as our own.
10. We experience constant fatigue: It is tiring absorbing other people's emotional energy. we take on a lot without even realizing it. Empaths can often struggle with sleep disturbances and disorders, as well as chronic fatigue. We may often feel drained at the end of a busy day without having done any physical activity.

How many of the above traits sound like you?

If you can say "yes" to most of these statements, you are more than likely an empath.

Welcome to the club. It can feel like a challenge, especially with all that is going on in the world. We most definitely pick up on the collective negative energy from the environment around us.

If you feel you are struggling and want to learn how to use these newfound superpowers for good, schedule a free insight call with me today by clicking here!

Don't forget to stay tuned for part two tomorrow!