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Empathy is an innate ability that everyone posseses. On a given day, one can sense non-verbal cues from another person. However, an individual who is an empath has a heightened sensitivity to others' emotions. For empaths, it's common to not only sense how others are feeling but to FEEL how others are feeling. Empaths can read a person's -- and in some cases -- an animal's underline true thoughts and feelings. They understand the true feelings of others, partly because empaths absorbs a person’s raw emotion. The ability to project what others are feeling is a powerful gift. However, the process can be overwhelming. Think about it. It can be invigorating to feel the joy or excitement of another people. But imagine if you also felt the grief, the fear, the anger or the depression of another person. That is what empaths deal with every day of their lives. If you are an empath, learning to control your empathic ability will not happen over night. There will be challenging situations that at times can be troubling. One of the biggest obstacles empaths sometimes find difficult is the ability to edit how they interact with others. At times one might find that they are mindlessly reciprocating the inner emotions of the person they are interacting with; this occurs unintentionally and it may cause conflict, potentially strain relationships with friends and family. In contrast, you can become a magnet for people to come to you with their problems. People may pick up on the fact that you have a knack for knowing exactly what is wrong with them. Wanting to help, you listen and try to assist. Over time, other people's problems become your problems. In some aspects, you begin to lose yourself because you are always worrying about other people's feelings. There is also the possibility that you can pick up on feelings that another person is not even aware that they have. Many people are not in touch with their own feelings. They use escape mechanisms such as alcohol, drugs, shopping or sex to avoid dealing with their feelings. As an empath, you may point out a feeling in someone that they are not yet ready to take on. Absorbing emotions and feelings from others can take its toll on an individual’s mental state. Constantly absorbing other people's feelings can be overwhelming. Lack of control over your gift will result in a person bottling up his or her own emotions. Not tending to your feelings makes you more susceptible to withdrawing from people. In some cases, a person can develop depression. Make no mistake, an empath's ability is a spiritual blessing. The ability to understand others can be a necessary tool to make a difference as a healer. It is imperative to channel your own feelings and emotions accordingly. In addition to channeling feelings, it is important to find ways to turn off your gift when necessary. The ultimate goal is to embrace your gift while finding a balance. Mara Enid writes about empath traits and other survival tips for empaths.
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