There are many definitions out there regarding what it means to be an empathic person, and many opinions about whether it’s positive or negative to even have this quality. The truth is that due to many factors that have already occurred in your life, more than likely you are already a certain percentage empathic. This means that, to a certain degree, you can empathize with people when they share stories with you, and you can put yourself in other people’s shoes in certain situations. I know most of us were raised with a constant battering of the phrase “before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes…” and we know that’s not for the purposes of getting a new pair of foot-candy.
The whole concept of not judging until you consider as many contributing elements as you can is (to me) the basic idea that sows the seeds for empathy. You begin to realize that even though some people’s lives seem charmed, or some others seem like they have everything going for them and nothing failing, you never know the full story. At the same time, they never know the full story about you – only what you allow to be shown.
That’s one of the reasons why social media is so popular nowadays too, because on there people can convey life the way they want only and no one is the wiser. Obviously, as with most things social media-related, things are often over-inflated and exaggerated.
So, what does it really mean to be an empath?
It means that to some degree you comprehend others’ plights when they tell you what they’re going through, and you (again, to some degree) feel their emotions yourself. Very strongly empathic people find themselves often internalizing other people’s pain. It’s almost automatic – they feel other people’s emotions so strongly that they become as their own. In these situations it’s important that they distance themselves more from others’ negativity (because it’s inevitable they’ll be around some of it in life) AND it’s also important they surround themselves with more positivity daily. These two things will greatly help an empath stay positive and feel more stable.
What’s the deeper reason there are empaths, and what’s the point?
As you may have already noticed, the natural universe works in a very efficient manner. In a general sense our world is always going through some sort of shift. People of both the spiritual and scientific slants agree that our current shift is in terms of becoming more positive. There are more people that are paying attention, there is more ability to transmit and share goodwill, there is more of a desire than ever to unite on a global scale with feelings of loving-kindness.
The purpose of the empathy inherent in everyone is to help with this shift. We can better agree and get along when we understand each other in a deeper emotional sense.
On a smaller scale it’s incredibly helpful to feel empathy in daily life – but not internalize it and suffer for someone else’s issues. Interactions are smoother, resolutions are easier, and smiles are more abundant when people use empathy in a positive manner with those around them.
Whether you feel empathy in a strong way or just as a small aside, I hope this has helped you to better understand the bigger picture and why it helps to groom those understanding skills. Be thankful (to yourself) that you are, in the realest sense, part of the greater good and the underlying cure that helps everyday to bring more positivity to the world.
I thank you, also. 🙂
I’m a Wellness Scientist and healer with over 15 years’ experience.
For over 6 years I’ve been experimenting and healing in a zone where science and metaphysics collide!The unique (and cutting-edge) healing solutions I’ve developed blend proven techniques with a strong scientific influence.
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Yours in Calmness,
Reverend Michelle
