Has anyone ever said "you have a trusting face?" Do you find yourself listening with ease to other people's problems? Do strangers easily share intimate secrets? If so, you probably have gone through life being more affected by other peoples' energies than you realize.
As an empath, you are someone who has been hard-wired, from birth, to perceive and experience the thoughts, emotions, physical sensitivities, and spiritual urges of other persons. It is much more than being a highly sensitive person, and not limited to just emotions. For you, it can be like living an episode of Star Trek! You don't even have to try and you just know the motivations and intentions of other people.
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You cannot change the fact that you are an empath. It is akin to your eye color. You either are or you're not. Being an empath is not teachable; it's not something to learn. However, you can learn to become a skilled empath and manage your empath nature. Hopefully you have, or will now, make it your intention to modify the intensity of the empath experience through adaptive means (meditation, movement, grounding, wearing protective stones). However, it is quite common for empaths to modify the feelings through not-so-adaptive means (alcohol, drugs, addictions). If you fall into that category, it is completely understandable and you are not alone! Almost every empath whom I have encountered has, at one point or another, sought to alter their mood through addictions.
The definition of being an empath means you are always "on," constantly available to process other people's feelings and energy. As an empath, you have a gift, or in many cases, what may feel like a serious curse! For now, let's set aside any notions of judgement. Even if it feels like an overwhelming burden, which it certainly is at times, our responsibility as an empath is to ourselves first, others second. So with that in mind, let's focus on how we can take responsibility for managing our energetic sensitivity.
Beware, though. Identifying and recognizing yourself as an empath may give you a charge. It may cause lingering sensations of relief, bordering on giddyness. You will come to understand that as an empath you are not alone.
So with that in mind, let's talk about what I have found are 5 of the most helpful methods of keeping yourself clean, strong, and healthy as an empath, free of the negative energetic influences of others.
1. REFRAME YOUR MENTAL OUTLOOK
Being an empath is indeed a burden at times. To be maximally effective, we must do what counselors call reframing, that is, changing our mental outlook so there is no room for blame. We can do very little to change our currently inherited genetic characteristics (although I believe that prayer from a sincere heart can change the past, present, and future. But that's a whole other story for another book!).
Somewhere along the line, it is my belief, and my personal belief only, that empaths have agreed to help come to the Earth in this time of tremendous social, political, and environmental transition to be the "vacuum cleaners." Empaths are the ones whose task it is to clean up the suffering that we individually and collectively created in the past. This is a personal outlook that serves to help put my gifts in perspective. It also helps to promote what I believe to be my serious responsibility to myself and others. And whether or not you choose to view your empathic nature in these terms is ultimately up to you.
As empaths, It is helpful to take a close look at our personal narrative. What are the stories that we tell ourselves as we wash dishes or peel potatoes? If we believe in a story that we need protection from evil spirits or negative energy, then we more likely set ourselves up for the manifesting of that scenario. As empaths, we understand what's it's like to be knocked around by other people's energy. However, I don't think that it's maximally effective to focus on just protection. If we focus instead on how to maintain a strong healthy aura, any negative energies will be naturally and automatically dispelled. Negative energy cannot exist in the presence of light. To use a sports or political metaphor, it's a question of whether you want to be on offense or defense. Focusing on promoting positive strengths is almost always more effective than a mental outlook that's designed to protect your empath energy from invasion. That said, it is absolutely true that empaths need protection - we just don't want to overdo it.
2. USE PROTECTING STONES AND WEAR A MEDICINE KIT
Stones have been known for their healing and protective properties for thousands of years. Stones are the oldest material on the earth, they are living creatures who offer their medicine to us if we will use it. Stones can be worn by carrying a medicine pouch around your neck or by wearing stone jewelry. I have found that the three best repellants for negative energy are Tourmaline, Onyx and Obsidian. Just like you, your stones must be cleaned regularly. I clean my stones usually every few days, depending on the intensity of my daily empath interactions. Give your stones at least 2-3 hours of direct sunlight in a crystal or glass bowl filled with sea salt and water. If you can't get access to sunlight, run them under some tap water. It does almost as good a job.
3. USE NEW TECHNOLOGY
The first products that deserve mention are far infrared lightwave (heat) producing mats that penetrate deep into the body. I own a massage-table size product called the Amethyst BioMat that I have found indispensable in cleaning out energy. I lay on it every day when I feel energy accumulation. It uses far infrared heat, coupled with negative ions and the healing power of Amethyst, to increase blood circulation, thus producing an artificial fever in which the body's immune system is stimulated. As you relax on top of the warm Amethyst, toxins are scrubbed away in as little as 30 minutes a day.
The second set of empath products worth looking into are the Electromagnetic field (EMF) protectors now on the market. It has been my experience that finding the right EMF protector for one's unique energetic makeup can be hit or miss. I tried several products without success before finding the EarthCalm pendant. It's a scalar resonance electric circuit which grounds one to the Earth's energy field. I could feel the energy swirling in my field the moment I put it on. It is really crucial to understand that everyone's energy system is different. Some products, including the Earthcalm, may actually do the opposite of what they are intended to do and make your sensitivity even more pronounced. The Q-Link pendant is another option that many empaths have reported successful. I do not sell any of these products. I list them simply because I have found them to be helpful in my own experience and that of my clients.
4. MOVE!
Exercise and movement in any form are great ways for empaths to move out old energy and pull in fresh energy. Martial arts and yoga are two of the best methods for an empath. Even a simple movement of one's arm might be enough, or even a simple acknowledgment that your wrist hurts. The body responds to our focused attention in-kind.
If you are intimidated by the concept of martial arts, then try yoga, Tai Chi, or a user-friendly practice such as Nia, which is now emerging worldwide. I certainly wouldn't be as effective without my daily Nia practice. Nia is a practice that re-trains the nervous system by combining a series of intentional, healing body postures with the power of dance and yoga. I find it to be the most joyful and playful experience of every day.
5. PROGRAM YOUR BRAIN WITH AFFIRMATIONS AND PRAYER.
Actual physical voicing of particular words and sounds produce a powerful effect in our empath energy fields. In the coaching work that I do with empaths, this is known as neuro-linguistic programming. The brain and body are programmed to produce good feelings with the repeating of certain mantras, words, or phrases. The process is designed to stimulate the empath nervous system into intentionally producing the actual energetic vibrations and feelings of peace, happiness, joy, and tranquility. I have a CD/mp3 album called The Empath Experience available on Amazon if you are interested further in this topic.
When you become a conscious empath, you will dramatically reduce your stress and anxiety, improve your mental outlook, improve relationships, and lead to a freedom and liberation previously unknown. You will be able to create joy where none was before present. In situations where you previously felt trapped, you now can bring in positive energy to change situations. You'll begin to light up other people's lives in a new way, and fulfill your destiny as an empath to help others. All of these skills take practice. With time, they will come more naturally. At some point, you will reach a tipping point; a critical point where your awareness exceeds your unconsciousness. It takes work on yourself to get to this place. Some empaths go all their lives and never reach it, but only for lack of will. If your will is strong enough, you will reach a place of emotional maturity and become a skilled empath.