If you are an Empath you will already know that being in public places can be a traumatizing affair. Simply nipping to the shopping mall can mean you end up ‘wearing’ someone else’s energy for the rest of the day. Which isn’t such a bad thing if the energy is positive and highly charged. But it is mostly the not-so-nice energy that follows you home.
On my journey as an Empath, I have found the best way to stay protected, when out in public places, is to either take pre-emptive measures before leaving home or use energy balancing techniques as and when needed.
As all Empaths are different, what works for one might not work for another. And depending on the circumstances you might need to use different techniques for different situations… or several techniques all at once.
Here are some of the most effective and easy protective techniques you can use before, during or after crowd exposure:
Trait 28 Will not choose to buy antiques, vintage or second-hand.
Anything that’s been pre-owned carries the energy of the previous owner. An Empath may even prefer to have a brand new car or house (if they are in the financial situation to do so) with no residual energy.
Many people wrongly assume the reason number 28 is on the list is because antiques hold negative energy. Anything pre-owned can carry negative or positive energy but this is not the reason it is on the list. Continue reading →
Have you ever spent time with someone who on the surface seems as nice as pie, but when with them you feel awful and struggle to form a sentence?
This discomfort is caused by your Empathic antenna sensing all is not what it seems. You are detecting that what this person is showing is a fake persona created to hide something from others.
When an Empath comes across fake people it is common for them to shut down as a form of protection. This can be seen as stumbling over words or one’s memory and thought process being affected. Anyone who is not emanating truthful vibes will put an Empath on high alert. Continue reading →
I think you will probably all agree that, for the Empath, when it comes to wellbeing, there certainly seems to be never ending hurdles to overcome.
Like many of you lovely Empaths out there, I consider myself to be somewhat introverted. And living in this extrovert world can often make me feel like I’m a large square peg being pushed into a small round hole.
And as is typical of an introvert, the thought of going out in busy peopled places or having to attend bustling social events sometimes ignites a bout of ‘social dread’ for me.
So, when I recently came across a condition that causes unnecessary social anxiety and excessive introversion, it immediately caught my attention.
The condition is called Pyroluria. and is caused by a lack of vitamin B6 and the mineral zinc.
Vitamin B6 and zinc are stripped from the body when under a lot of stress. As most Empaths suffer with high levels of emotional stress, they have to consider their nutrient levels may be low.
As an Empath, you will no doubt have heard of the chakras; but you may not know of the importance they play in keeping you happy, healthy and protected from the energy of others.
The chakras are energy centres located along the central energy canal, near the spine, and are in direct correlation with the endocrine system.
Chakras and Their Corresponding Glands
Root or base chakra: adrenals
Sacral chakra: ovaries/testes
Solar plexus chakra: pancreas
Heart chakra: thymus
Throat chakra: thyroid/parathyroids
Third eye chakra: pineal
Crown chakra: pituarity
The word chakra means wheel or circle and can be translated into vortex or whirlpool. The chakras are vortices which controls the energy of the body.
Chakras can be classed as healthy or unhealthy, open, closed, blocked or imbalanced.
If any of the chakras remain permanently open, it can result in physical and energetic vulnerability, and a diminished aura.
A weakened, leaky aura is bad news on many levels for the Empath. It not only allows our energy to leak out but also allows too much energy in, from those we come into contact with.
So, if you are struggling with fatigue, overwhelm and dealing with too much emotional energy, you may have to consider that your chakras are unbalanced and your aura is leaky.
Most Empaths come to learn how to navigate the moods and emotions of others, but when there is an energy shift it can throw them right off.
The problem is an Empath may not know how to differentiate between experiencing a ‘shift in the planetary energy’ between experiencing other peoples’ emotional energy.
Rewiring and rebooting are words used within ascension circles as an expression of how we are affected by energy shifts. During these times, I feel those two words could not be more appropriate.
Intense energy shifts can lift us up or bring us crashing down. They often trigger anger, frustration, depression or incredible joy.
Here are 6 ways in which energy shifts may impact you physically and emotionally:
1. Feeling wired followed by crashing fatigue:
Up and down we go. From wanting to sleep for the world one day to feeling electrically wired the next.
Fatigue is commonly experienced by an Empath, but the fizzy-type of energy experienced from energy shifts cannot be mistaken, it pretty much leaves you feeling like you have been charged up with electricity. And although you may feel mentally or physically tired, this buzzing energy can keep you awake at night.
2. Brain fog:
Poor memory recall and a fuzzy head seems to be the norm in recent years; but when there’s a shift do not be surprised if you feel more scatty than normal.
3. Intense emotional ups and downs, very bi-polar in nature, or being hyper-sensitive:
It may seem like I’m stating the obvious here, because for Empaths it is normal to feel strong emotions, yet these emotions/sensations are not like the normal ones we experience. They come out of nowhere and range from anger to blissful happiness.
You may find yourself waking up in a bad mood, with no reason, or little things that would not normally bother you suddenly have you riled. Then you may find yourself feeling happier than you ever have.
We are also getting the backlash of others’ strong emotions. Many people are now being activated or affected, as I have said many times before, it can be very easy to lay claim to another’s emotions and build them into our own life-story.
4. Having zero tolerance for selfish or self-pitying behaviour and drawing a line under past dramas:
You may have previously been able to put up with another’s self-centred ways, but now find yourself quickly backing away from dramas.
You could have come to a point where you will no longer put up with bad behaviour, nor allow others to pull you down. You have decided enough is enough!
This is not by chance. It’s as though we are disconnecting from all the irresolvable dramas and family or friendship feuds that we had in our past, not wanting them to have any part in our future. And there are very good reasons for this:
You have very likely been on this path for many years; and during this time you have dealt with your emotional wounds, whilst others around you looked on or had no idea what you were enduring. In recent times, those others are now going through these changes. It is their turn to process and deal with their emotional wounds.
So, if you find yourself walking away or distancing yourself from family or lifelong friends’ dramas, selfish behaviour or other, it is your internal knowing, stopping you from getting involved.
If you find past issues stirred up, that you had long since forgotten or already dealt with, it is very likely because they have been triggered within a friend or family member, as part of the energetic shifts, and you are picking up on them. This may have further pushed you away.
For Empaths, walking away from those in emotional turmoil is not something that comes naturally. It may seem somewhat cruel or aggressive. But you are not being cruel by not engaging in ‘their stuff’, it is simply not yours to deal with. They have to do it for themselves.
This is very much a DIY process!
5. A change in diet and lifestyle:
Another sign of energy shifts is wanting to change one’s lifestyle. An example of this would be giving up foods, drinks or habits that do not promote all-round health, happiness and wellbeing.
Most Empaths make gradual changes to their lifestyle over the ‘awakening years’, but when there’s been a shift, all the pieces start clicking together. You find a diet or exercise plan that works to heal your body, mind and spirit, and you want to stick with it.
6. Ready to take the leap:
You may also suddenly feel very ready to make big changes: in your career, social life or habitat. You find yourself doing things you have wanted to do, but put off for years.
It’s as though the past self-doubts that previously held us back, no longer have the same hold. But, we also know we’ve got to meet our new life half-way and that means stepping out into the world to bring it forth.
These are just some of the ways you may have experienced the shifts and I’m sure there will be many others too, not listed here.
But one thing is for sure: if we are to truly evolve in life we cannot have the old dramas (people, jobs, lifestyles) dragging us back down.
Energy shifts help us evolve, and although they may be uncomfortable, they help take us to all the right places.
Although emotions are part of human life and something everyone has to live with, Empaths and HSPs are known to have heightened emotions. This basically means they get upset easier, feel fear and nervousness more readily, and when they get down it can take them longer to get back up… But did you know there was a reason for this?
There is a certain part of the brain called the amygdala which plays a part in emotional overload.
Dr. Elaine Aron, a research psychologist, found the amygdala to be highly activated in Sensitive people. The more Sensitive you are the more this gland seems to work.
The amygdala is a set of small almond-shaped clusters of nuclei, located deep within the brain’s temporal lobe, which plays a huge part in processing emotions. The more aggressive the emotion the more responsive the amygdala becomes, and is responsible for triggering the stress response hormones.
Dr. Aron found, through a series of trials and research, that when Sensitive people (Empaths and HSPs) were shown pictures of human suffering the amygdala became highly activated. Which in turn released hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream, which further enticed emotional responses.
The amygdala is not a thinking part of the brain. It is a reacting part which activates when exposed to stimuli such as stress, fear or other strong emotions. It causes an automatic response known as the fight-or-flight response.
The fight-or-flight response is the body’s way of protecting us from dangerous situations. The process elevates hormones to give the energy and strength to run away from danger or stay and fight.
Two of the hormones released into the body, by amygdala activation, are adrenalin and cortisol. These hormones increase heart rate, respiration and glucose levels. All of which are essential for increased body activity. But, they can also ignite fearful emotions and anxiety.
When these hormones are constantly activated by the endocrine glands (courtesy of amygdala activation), and not used through body movement, etc. it can cause heightened emotional responses. This eventually puts other organs and hormones out of balance and leads to illnesses (such as heart disease, adrenal fatigue and diabetes), as well as problems within the energy body (leaky aura and blocked or excessively open chakras).
An Empath does not need to watch another endure pain to experience suffering. Simply being in the presence of someone suffering emotionally is enough to ignite a reaction, whether the other person shows their emotions or not. An Empath feels them and therefore reacts to them. This means the Empath often overproduces adrenalin and cortisol. Both of which stimulate fearful emotions and can lead to weight gain (another reason many Empaths have pot bellies).
In normal situations, when a stressful situation is removed stress levels return to normal, and the amygdala stops reacting. It is when the stress triggers do not decrease that problems arise. This is where issues can occur for the Empath.
Empaths don’t get away from stressful emotions easily. Not only do they have to deal with their own day-to-day stresses but that of others too…
The Empath may stop feeling other people’s emotions soon after leaving them. But this is not always the case. Some people’s emotional energy can cling to the Empath for days after (see this post to learn more). Which means the amygdala is constantly activated and large amounts of unnecessary hormones are dumped into the body.
What to do about it?
1. Avoid triggers:
The first step we can take in preventing unnecessary amygdala activation is to avoid known triggers. The people you know who stimulate a negative emotional response (see post here) lasting more than a day should be avoided.
The amygdala is a defence mechanism activated by emotional responses. It can also be triggered by emotional memories.
People who bring nothing to your life but emotional pain eventually become an Empath trauma trigger and should probably be avoided.
2. Control your mind and thoughts:
Keep the mind quiet to stop unnecessary amygdala activation from thoughts, read post here
3. Avoid stimulants:
Sensitives react to coffee and other stimulants more than most. It is best to know your caffeine intake limits and stay within them (take note at which point you get a physical response – too much caffeine can cause shakiness, pounding heart, flushing, faster breathing and an aching chest – and stay under the that amount). Also drug-like food has a huge impact on an Empath brain (read more about this subject here) and should be avoided.
4.Exercise daily:
Exercise has many redeeming benefits for the Empath. In the case of amygdala activation, it helps clear excess stress hormones from the bloodstream (which would otherwise cause damage).
5. Control glucose levels through diet:
Regularly experiencing stressful emotions, your own or off others’, results in extra glucose being dumped into the bloodstream (from amygdala hormone activation), the last thing an Empath needs is their diet to contribute to this problem. Avoiding sugar or sugar-forming foods can prevent this from happening.
If you are one who carries excess belly fat, your body is receiving too much glucose for its needs. If you want to learn more about how the right diet can transform an Empath’s life you may want to read this post.
I hope this blog post helped you understand how your brain plays a vital part in your Empath wellbeing, and how the amygdala’s activation impacts your emotional health.
If you want to learn more about the ways Empaths are affected by the energy of others click on the attached links above.
Hope all is keeping really well in your Empath corner of the world…
Until next time
Diane
If you have found my work to be helpful please consider donating here
In recent times, more and more information has become available on the traits of Empaths and Highly Sensitive People (HSP). But as little as ten years ago this wasn’t the case. Many Sensitive people struggled to understand who they were and why they had such powerful emotional reactions to life situations or when around certain people.
It is interesting to note how many Empaths discovered they were also introverts on their quest to uncover why they ‘felt’ so much when around people. And a need for time alone was not just down to having been ‘peopled’, it is very much an introvert trait. But even the extrovert Empaths discovered, like introverts, they also need time alone to recharge.
During my many years of research I came across Dr. Elaine Aron, a prominent research psychologist who wrote a book about HSPs.
In her research, into the inner-workings and behaviour traits of Sensitive people, Dr Aron interviewed 39 people who described themselves as either being introverted or easily overwhelmed by social stimulation, and queried their film preferences, creative activities, relationships with family and friends, and philosophical and religious views.
Based on these interviews, and further research, she came up with a compilation of 27 attributes of a Highly Sensitive Person.
Here’s a sampling:
Highly Sensitive People tend to be keen observers who look before they leap.
They arrange their lives in ways that limit surprises.
They are sensitive to sights, sounds, smells, pain, and stimulants such as coffee.
HSPs have difficulty when being observed or judged for general worthiness.
They have a tendency to be philosophical or spiritual in their orientation, rather than being materialistic.
They dislike being engaged in small talk.
They describe themselves as being creative or intuitive.
They dream vividly and have good dream recall.
They love music, art, nature and physical beauty.
They feel exceptionally strong emotions, such as acute bouts of joy, sorrow, melancholy and fear.
They process information about their environments, both physical and emotional, very deeply.
They notice subtleties: such as another person’s shift in mood or a light bulb burning too brightly.
They have an unusually strong conscience.
They dislike violent films and TV shows.
The are acutely aware of the consequences of their own behaviour.
In social settings they often focus on subjects like the personal problems of others.
Aron also found that many introverts tend to be Highly Sensitive…or Empaths!
Do you identify with any of the above traits?
It should be noted that because someone is an Empath does not always make them an introvert, there certainly seems to be more introvert Empaths than extroverts, but many introvert Empaths tend to be a HSP.
An introvert Empath or HSP has more chance of becoming excessively withdrawn, to the point of becoming a near recluse, especially if they’ve taken many knocks in life (read more about this here).
If would like to discover more about where you sit on the introvert/extrovert spectrum click here to take the Briggs Meyers personality test. It’s quite an eye opener.
For more books on the incredible Empath traits and ways for the Empaths to harness their hidden power click here.
Anyone who has read many of my posts is probably aware that I’m a big advocate of taking responsibility for self-healing.
When it comes to finding balance and realigning the mind, body and spirit, I believe we are the ones who are responsible. We must make the changes. It is after all our journey. (Of course I am not talking about serious health conditions, that need medical assistance).
I wasn’t always of this mind. When I was younger, I hoped others would do it for me. I wanted the easy option… I learnt the hard way on that one.
It was over 20 years ago when I started looking for answers to the mysteries of life. And in that time I have made many discoveries. Especially in regard to Empath life!
It took me a while to see it, but although it comes with many challenges, the journey of an Empath is a brilliant fast-paced rollercoaster ride and a true blessing. If it were an easy comfortable trip we would never get to overcome the many obstacles we do. And, in turn, accomplish and learn so much.
We climb mountains, float on clouds and stumble into darkness, sometimes all in one day, and it is these experiences that make the Empath journey so worthwhile.
I have by no means got the answers to life’s mysteries, nor would I yet want to have. We have to leave something to learn on life’s path. However, the most important detail I have realized to date is: we will never find true health, peace or happiness until we heal the trinity of mind, body and spirit.
Mind = thoughts, ego and emotions
Body = physical vessel
Spirit = the energetic body and higher self or soul
We come as a trinity package and when it comes to healing we generally have to work on all three.
We heal the body and mind through eating the right diet, drinking plenty of water, doing a good amount of exercise, avoiding excess amounts of stress or anything that is harmful to us.
We heal the spirit by living authentically, expressing gratitude, being kind, having a spiritual practice/belief and spending time in nature.
Generally, when the body is in balance the mind and spirit very quickly follows. The biggest cause of physical imbalance is the diet.
It won’t matter if you work out five times a week, or if you have a regular spiritual or meditative practise, if your diet is unsuitable you will be out of balance and you will struggle with Empath life and your trinity will be out of sync.
Eating foods that do not agree with you will weaken your body, disrupt your hormones, cause mental imbalance and contribute to leaky aura (seriously bad news for the Empath ).
I had no idea that what we put in our mouths could have such a harmful effect on our all round physical and mental health, as an Empath, until I changed my diet.
The start of my Empath transformation began in 2012 [see post here ], when I started making changes to what I ate.
By removing certain foods, I found life as an Empath became easier and more enjoyable, and my intuition and happiness increased. I was shocked that the wrong diet had had such a negative impact on me.
If you are an Empath and you have suffered for a long time with niggling health problems like allergies or depression, if you struggle spending time around people, or if you experience crushing fatigue or brain fog look at your diet.
Modern diets and lifestyles have taken too many Empaths and Sensitives down. Putting them out of action without them realizing that their diet is preventing them from becoming all they can be.
If you want to see BIG changes in your life, change your diet!
If you have worked on yourself mentally, spiritually and physically and still suffer bouts of Empath fatigue, overwhelm, depression or other physical ailments it is time to address what you eat…
Now is the perfect time to make changes, to start living, not just existing, and get doing what you came here to do, and that can be done through healing the trinity of mind, body and spirit.
There is nothing to lose but everything to gain…
2017 Update: If you are interested in changing your Empath life, this book will help you. Or to check your symptoms click on the link: Empath symptoms.
Hope this helps on your journey!
Until next time,
Diane
If you have found my work to be helpful please consider donating here
Most Empaths have at least one person in their life who cause them to experience negative emotions, just by being in their presence. These people, who may be friends or family members, seem to spew acid when they talk: they complain about everything, appreciate nothing and only look out for their own interests.
It is quite normal for an Empath to experience heightened emotions and feel another’s buried pain, and we want to help others out with their problems when we can, but we are not supposed to be someone’s emotional punch bag or toxic dumping ground.
Toxic people can drain your energy within a matter of minutes of being in their presence, and even self-protection techniques may not work to prevent their dark vibes seeping in.
Typical sensations experienced when with toxic people:
Anger or feelings of bitterness: This can last for the duration of being in their presence and up to 10 days after. Depending on their negative traits will depend on what you feel.
Fatigue: Struggling to keep your eyes open, especially if they are venting.
Being out of sorts: A range of strange feelings wash over you, from being spaced out, to nausea.
Negative talk: Finding yourself talking negatively of others, even though it is not a typical trait of yours.
Apathy: Losing all previous zest and optimism.
If you have a toxic person in your life, you may have already tried helping them, by sharing what has helped you in dealing with the rigours of life. Sadly, they did not want to listen and have no intentions of making any changes to themselves, preferring to continue to offload their negative rants on you.
The Empath generally avoids hurting or causing unnecessary pain to others, and it is for this reason many keep in their lives those who cause them unhappiness. Yet, one must always put the emotional health of self first.
If a food or substance made you violently ill, or caused you to feel depressed, you would likely avoid it; the same should be applied to those who cause emotional turmoil.
We have a responsibility to keep our body and mind healthy. If another continually causes stress that we cannot cope with (all stress eventually leads to illness) the only option is to remove them from our life.
I am not talking about having the ego dented by another’s random disrespect. Everyone have people who offend, hurt or make them angry, by their lack of understanding. And we in turn will no doubt, unknowingly, do the same to others. This issue is about those toxic friends, or family members, who repetitively (and often intentionally) bring us down.
The point comes in all toxic friendships when you have to decide if it is causing more harm than good.
Here are some questions to ask that may help you evaluate your friend/relationship and hopefully help you see if it is a healthy one:
Am I taking anything from this friend/relationship?
Does spending time with him/her make me happy?
Do I dread being in his/her presence?
When was the last time I enjoyed being in his/her company?
Do we have any of the same interests?
Is it a one-sided friendship with me fitting in with his/her needs?
Does this relationship affect my emotional health?
Do I feel ill, emotionally drained or have intense negative emotions after being with him/her?
Am I being used as an emotional dumping ground?
Does he/she have a lot of negative thoughts or anger towards me?
Am I learning anything from spending time with him/her?
Is being in this relationship making me grow spiritually, emotionally or other?
Is this relationship beneficial to either of us?
Has he/she become dependent upon me?
What are my real reasons for staying in this relationship?
There are many reasons we encounter toxic people. A common reason being the Mirror of the Empath. Certain encounters act as a mirror and show us weaknesses or issues we need to resolve within ourselves.
Any undesirable behaviour that repeats, in any type of relationship, is something that needs to be investigated. Repetition highlights flaws or issues that need to be worked on and learnt from.
We all learn from the bad situations presented in life. Yet, if the same emotional scenarios keep playing out, no one is gaining, learning or growing from the situation and it is time to cut the cord.
Once you have learned from an experience you don’t need to re-learn it over and over. You may learn from bad experiences, but you don’t need to keep experiencing other people’s negativity to grow.
This is not about being spiteful or uncaring. You can be grateful for all they have shown you in life and send them love. But when it feels time to let them go, it is.
If you want to learn the secrets of being an Empath, find ways to restructure your life and harness your hidden power, this may be of interest to you.
Hope this helps on your Empath Journey.
Until next time…
If you have found my work to be helpful please consider donating here
I have attached a link to an article I came across quite randomly whilst writing this post and offers another writer’s perspective on ways to deal with toxic people, and although it is not written with the Empath in mind, it is worth a read.
We don’t always realize it, but life is a series of linked events; each one leading to the next, like the spots on a child’s dot-to-dot puzzle. Yet, most are unaware that the seemingly random occurrences, of daily life, are in any way pivotal to the course of our destiny.
A chance meeting that happened 10 years ago may bring about an incredible job offer tomorrow, or a difficult situation endured in our teens may have helped us cope with an incident in our forties.
Because our mind is kept so busy trying to make sense of life’s conundrums, we are often kept from connecting the dots on our unique and mysterious life puzzle.
Our sensitivities and busy or stressed minds may also prevent us from seeing what a true gift being an Empath is.
The majority of us work hard trying to figure out life. We may wonder where our true purpose lies or we may constantly find ourselves looking at ways to fit into this crazy old world.
Sadly, much of our present life is missed because our mind gets stuck in the past reliving old hurts or it skips off into the future searching for hope.
It is as though our happiness lies only in the future or in tomorrow’s achievements…
It’s funny how we have been programmed to think our happiness lies in our gains. We are led to believe our future goals, will bring deserved and long sought after happiness. But how many of our life accomplishments came and went without being enjoyed or celebrated? Probably not too many. Was that because they did not bring with them the feelings of completion or fulfilment we expected?
You’ve probably already passed exams, got the job you applied for, bought the car or home, travelled the world, found a partner, enjoy financial stability, had children… In fact, when you stop and look at how much you’ve already achieved in life, you will see there’s been a lot to celebrate… So, if true contentment comes with our accomplishments shouldn’t we be ecstatic?
So why do so many of us feel disconnected or dissatisfied with our lives? It may certainly appear that the Empath is destined to go through life feeling unfulfilled or overwhelmed, and that happiness is a destiny that belongs to someone else. But I know for sure that does not have to be the case.
Yes, there are many things that come with being an Empath that make life difficult: getting hurt easily, feeling other’s emotional pain and often being a beacon for negativity. Yet all the difficulties we have endured have built an incredible resilience and strengthened us in ways we cannot begin to imagine.
It is easy to forget that we came here for a reason: to experience life as an Empath and the many challenges that go with it. Because it can certainly be a challenging path to walk. It is often strenuous, painful, overly emotional and sometimes lonely. But it is also enlightening, invigorating and electrically charged and, when we allow ourselves to see it, a true gift!
We just need to change our perspective.
As an Empath, we can boast of life experiences that few can expect to have. We feel things others don’t and we have a strong sense of intuition that will take us to all the right places, if we allow it.
Sometimes, we purposely make life more difficult for ourselves, without realizing. And sometimes we allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity or we get stuck in victim mentality. We may also subconsciously choose to ignore what we need to do to keep us safe and sane on our journey, but the keys to our happiness are always there for us to find, when we are ready.
We don’t have to wait, we can choose today to make it happen. A shift in our perspective is all it takes to change our whole outlook. It is, after all, only in the here and now where we get to experience true contentment, but we have to choose it first.
It is easy to see dark or challenging times as punishments, but when we come through the other side we often find an incredible gift inside the experience.
The experiences we have as Empaths really are unique, and every difficulty we have endured and overcome has catapulted us forward, shaping the course of our life. Everything we have experienced has brought us to where we are now, but it is up to us how we perceive our own reality.
We have a choice. If we only allow ourselves to see the dark, that is all we will know. When we focus on the silver lining of every experience we will always see it.
We attract into our life who and what we are. To draw more magnificence to your Empath life it helps to develop a more magnificent outlook on life.
Here are 50 ways of being which, if adopted, will see many incredible positive changes happen in your life!
1. Let Go of Expectations of Others
Expectations can cause untold pain and frustration. Let them go and it will free you from disappointment.
2. Learn to Accept
You cannot and should not control everything in life. Acceptance is essential if you want to live a happy, healthy life.
3. Release Dependency on Others
When you depend on another to make you happy, or to give your life meaning, you miss out on discovering how incredible you are.
4. Control your Thoughts
Stress and unhappiness are born from chaotic Empath musings. Quieten your mind and calm your thoughts.
5. Judge Not
Judging makes you fearful of judgements. Choose not to judge, yourself or others, and you will find more emotional freedom.
6. Stop Procrastinating
Don’t put off today what you can do tomorrow. Why waste life thinking about what you could be doing?Just do it!
7. Be at Peace with Criticism
Trying to avoid criticism prevents you from doing what you are meant to do and becoming who you are meant to be as an Empath.
8. Change not Another nor let Another Change You
Don’t mould others into the people you want them to be and don’t change yourself to please another. Just be! Allow your Empath self to be true.
9. Don’t Take it Personally
If another treats you badly, it is a reflection on them. Not you!
10. Get Out in Nature
Spending time in nature is grounding and uplifting and will soothe your Empath soul.
11. Never Give Up
Good things don’t arrive overnight. People have little appreciation of that which comes easy. No matter what your age: Believe in yourself and continue striving towards your goals.
12. Leave the Crowd Behind
You are here to enjoy your exclusive life experience. Follow your calling not the crowd’s.
13. Collect Experiences not Treasures
When you leave your body you only take your knowledge and experiences. Make as many as you can.
14. Abandon the Fear of Failure
A failure is an experience that simply teaches you how not to do something. Whatever you choose to do as an Empath you will learn. Don’t let fear hold you back from trying.
15. Stay Protected
Keeping away from negative, draining energy will keep you empowered as an Empath.
16. Embrace Success
Expect success as an Empath and you will always have it!
17. Love What You Do and Do What You love
Follow your passions. When happy in your work success will follow.
18. Don’t Place Your Worth on Your Appearance
Youthful beauty fades but inner-beauty continues to grow. Let your inner-Empath-beauty shine!
19. Take Responsibility For Your Energy
You receive back what you give out. Project powerful, uplifting vibrations into the world and collect the rewards.
20. Create The Change You Want To See
Don’t wait. Create your Empath dream life. Be the change see the change.
21. Know Your Worth
No man is better than himself. Putting another on a pedestal instills the idea of unworthiness. Believe in your own brilliant Empath-self!
22. Listen to Others
Listening generously, to those who truly need to be heard, is healing. Heal others heal yourself.
23. Think Not of Revenge
You don’t need to ‘teach another a lesson’. Believe in karma. What goes around does indeed come around.
24. Remember You Have Freewill
It is your journey! Choose the Empath life you want to live.
25. Send Love into the World
Opening your heart to others is a show of strength. Love is empowering. Love will heal you and the world!
26. Let Go of Pain
You wouldn’t hold a fiery ember, so why allow painful emotions to burn within?
27. Don’t Allow Rules to Stifle Creativity
Creativity allows the Empath’s spirit to soar. If a rule no longer works make a new one.
28. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Daily
If you want to evolve as an Empath, do something each day that makes you uncomfortable.
29. Stop Waiting for Another to Complete You
The only person who can make you whole is you.
30. Learn to Be on Your Own
Spending time alone turns the Empath’s journey into an extraordinary expedition.
31. Express Gratitude
Being grateful sends a powerful message to the universe that you are open to more reasons to be grateful.
32. Keep Your Self-Talk Positive
A positive inner-voice is the key to a happy, productive Empath life.
33. Eat What Nature Intended
For lasting health and happiness keep your diet clean. Listen to your intuitive dietary promptings and feed yourself nourishing food.
34. Nurture Body Mind and Spirit
Your body, mind and spirit are connected. Only when all three are balanced will you find harmony as an Empath.
35. Free Your Voice and Learn to Say No
Only do it because you want to. You will never please others by constantly giving into their expectations. They just expect more.
36. Remember Your Friends
One of the biggest regrets of those on their deathbed is losing touch with old friends. You cannot make new ‘old friends’. You rarely make friends like the ones who have been in your life for the long hall, don’t forget them.
37. Free Yourself from Childhood Issues
The child in you lived and got through those difficult times; don’t let the adult be punished by them.
38. Let Go of Resentment
Why let another’s actions blight your life? Resentment makes you bitter. Let it go.
39. Control Anger
Breathe though and release it. Anger only punishes the bearer.
40. Help Others to Help Themselves
Instead of doing it for them, show them how.
41. Lose The Need to be Right
Wanting to be right just makes others wrong. Value opinions.
42. Question Everything
Don’t believe everything you read, hear or see. Trust your Empath gut. If it doesn’t feel right chances are it’s not.
43. Give Without Expect of Return
Doing nice things for others, without expecting anything back, is nourishment for the soul.
44. Stop Throwing Pity Parties
Like attracts like. Talking like a victim keeps you stuck in that mind-set.
45. Strive for Many Life Experiences
Keep your Empath life energised with new experiences every day.
46. Chase Your Dreams
Don’t die with your dreams unrealized. Step out there and create them.
47. Trust Your Intuition
Your Empath Knowing has more power than you may realise. Let it guide you.
48. Find Your Passions
How will you know what your true passions are if you don’t seek them out?
49. Select Acquaintances With Prudence
As an Empath, you become who you spend most time with. Choose wisely.
50. Choose Happiness
For a joyful life make the decision to feel happy each and every day. And stay away from anything that hinders your joy!
˜♥♥♥˜
If you’re curious why people behave strangely around you or act as though they don’t like you, you may want to read this post: The Mirror of an Empath.
Hope this helps on your Empath journey.
Until next time,
Diane
If you have found my work to be helpful please consider donating here
Over the years, I have tried and studied numerous types of holistic healing. I have researched the benefits of food and nutrition on physical and mental health, and how it affects Sensitive people. Through this, I have made many incredible discoveries.
One of the biggest realizations I have made from observing life and all my research, is how different each and everyone of us is, even as Empaths.
Sadly, we live in a world where we are all expected to be the same in the way we behave, look, think and live. We are encouraged to have the same goals, expected to respond and benefit from the same educational programmes, nutritional and medical advice. Even in the ‘New Age’ arena it can be a one-size-fits-all and an ‘it worked for me so it should work for you’ approach. But this is not how life works.
Some Empaths need speeding up, some need slowing down, some will benefit from a high protein diet, some a high carbohydrate diet, some need to get out of their heads, some need to get inside their heads, and some need routine and rules, others need space and freedom.
Because we are different in so many ways, the path for us to connect our mind, body and spirit is unique to us. But it is also up to each of us to work at finding what is best for us individually.
We may think we want the easy path but, as you will probably have already discovered in life, the easy path rarely ends up being easy. Great, amazing and valuable lessons can be learnt from enduring difficult and challenging times.
On my early journey of finding balance, as an Empath, I used to believe the answers to my healing lay in the metaphysical. I thought if I made myself more ‘spiritual’ I would better deal with all that I felt and thus become more balanced… I hadn’t taken into consideration that it didn’t matter how many hours I sat in meditation, doing yoga or how many spiritual texts I read, if I was putting poison into my body, no amount of meditation or spiritual awareness was going to balance me.
I made this discovery when I decided to change my diet. And the first change I made was by eliminating wheat… This was the start of an incredible life transformation! I lost weight without trying, I felt happier, my energy changed and I took charge of my Empath traits.
Although wheat is hailed as a health food, it acts like a drug and has been scientifically proven to have a drug-like effect on the brain. Wheat has been linked with hundreds of mental and physical illnesses, Click here to check any of your symptoms against those found to be caused by wheat. and it heightens the more ‘negative’ Empath traits.
Drug-Like Foods and the Empath
Now, although I say we are all different as Empaths and each need differing approaches to find balance, none of us will benefit from consuming drug-like foods.
Why?
Empaths react more to drug-like foods because they are highly reactive. High reactive people taste the bitterness in lemons more than others, feel emotional and physical pain more, go red in the face easier and are affected by drugs and alcohol worse than those who are not highly reactive.
Wheat is not seen or classed as a drug but, as it acts like one, it carries the same energy signature.
Many Empaths are under the impression that most of their mental and physical maladies are caused from absorbing too much negative energy when, in fact, many are caused or worsened by what they consume… especially drug-like food.
No one benefits from eating drug-like foods such as wheat!
You may not be aware but wheat has been genetically altered and its protein structure changed. Now, when digested, wheat breaks down into many small proteins that have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and attach themselves to the opiate receptors of the brain. This has the effect of a narcotic but without the high.
Wheat has been shown to encourage overeating and trigger or worsen mental illnesses.
Not only is wheat destructive to physical health, by its consumption we can damage our energy field (causing leaky aura) and disrupt the balance of the chakras and endocrine glands (glands that produce hormones). The following post explains more on how unbalanced chakras can destroy the Empath.
If you are one who has tried many things to find balance as an Empath, such as: grounding and protective techniques, meditation and spiritual practice and exercise, or if you eat a balanced or vegetarian diet and still struggle with health issues, low moods or depression, look to see if you are including wheat in your diet.
I appreciate others may not have the same benefits as me from wheat elimination. We are all different. But it is worth trying it for at least 4 weeks just to see.
When you remove anything which harms your physical and energy body you naturally evolve. It is said we grow most from that what we give up and not what we acquire (unless it’s peace of mind)
If you want to try going wheat-free or if you want to transform your life as an Empath, The Eating Plan For Empaths and HSPs will take you there. It goes into detail about how certain foods impact you as an Empath and how by changing your diet it can transform your life.
Click on the above link or the picture for more information.
For an Empath, learning to control the mind is prerequisite to a happy, healthy life. It is after all thoughts that create our outlook on reality.
As thoughts and feelings are interconnected, the way we think about anything is how we feel about it. Thoughts trigger emotions both positive and negative.
Negative thoughts are catalyst to building feelings of anger, fear or sadness, etc. Positive thoughts create feelings of warmth and happiness.
It is said the average person has 35 thoughts a minute. If only a quarter of them are dark, life will be unnecessarily challenging.
Dark thoughts can keep us up at night and wake us in the morning. They take over our mind when driving (how often have you got somewhere without remembering the journey?) and can too easily distract us from life.
Also, picking up the emotions of others has a massive impact on the way we think. Which could be a good or bad thing, depending on the emotional energy.
The good news is, we have a choice over the thoughts we indulge. The trick is learning how to break free from the more negative musings and this involves quietening the mind.
Being able to quieten the mind may take time and effort but, in doing so, it ignites an incredible inner calm! And one of the best ways to do this is through meditation.
By meditating, it does not mean we never have thoughts again. We simply gain greater control over those we choose to focus on. This ultimately prevents us getting lost in the type of thoughts that trigger painful emotions. Which is especially beneficial to the Empath.
There are many types of meditation to try, and they don’t all involve sitting on the floor in the lotus position. There is a type to suit each Empath: chanting, breath-work, visualisation, trance, etc.
You don’t have to stay in doors either. You can do a walking meditation where you externalise your awareness and focus on everything around you. e.g.: your feet on the grass as you walk, or at the trees and clouds in the sky above you.
When practised with awareness, yoga is a moving meditation that unites body, mind and spirit and is a good option for those who do not like to sit still.
Unlike in relaxation, we don’t want to fall asleep in meditation. This is the time to quieten a busy mind through intention; if we fall asleep, we lose that opportunity.
When first meditating, it is common for mind chatter to step up a gear. It feels like the world and his wife has taken up residence in the head… all with very loud voices. This is often the egoic mind at work wanting to stay in control of the thought process. This is entirely normal, albeit somewhat frustrating. And, just like turbulence on a plane, when we push through we eventually climb above it… then, all becomes calm, smooth and serene.
A regular meditation practise is essential to reap the full benefits because, as with anything in life, good things don’t happen overnight. The more we practice the calmer our thoughts and emotions become.
Not only is meditation a must for gaining control of the mind it is another great technique for balancing the chakras (Read here how unbalanced chakras destroys the Empath). It is also anti-ageing, de-stressing to the body and an incredible aid to sleep — especially when done in darkness.
Meditating in the dark helps keep the pineal gland (third eye) healthy, which in turn keeps the production of melatonin balanced.
What Does Melatonin Do?
Melatonin is known as the anti-ageing hormone and is produced by the pineal gland (area of third eye) in the darkness. It is a naturally occurring hormone that regulates the sleep cycle. It is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and helps prevent, and treat, many illnesses including cancer.
Studies have shown that meditation, done in complete darkness, before bedtime, increases production of melatonin and produces enough to last the night. This can be further aided by focusing on the third-eye (centre of forehead), which in turn stimulates the pineal gland.
Starting a Practice
To begin a meditation practise, it is best to plan a set time every day. Perhaps start with ten minutes and build to twenty or thirty.
Having no distractions is important. If you think someone will walk in and disturb you, that’s all you’ll think about when you’re supposed to be meditating.
If there is a lot of external noise, pop some earphones in and play some gentle music, or listen to a guided meditation… As long as you practice regularly you will continue to see the many benefits unfold.
Here are links to some meditations and breathing techniques.
There are many forms of psychic attack. For the purpose of this post, I’m referring to the type which is sent from one person to another, through dark thought forms.
Most Empaths have experienced psychic attack at some point in their life. Many without realizing what they are actually experiencing.
It’s often difficult to discern between the emotions our thoughts create, by pondering a stressful subject, to those we experience through psychic attack, and this is why many Empaths are unaware they are on the receiving end of it.
Most people don’t experience the dark thoughts of others, but Empaths do. When another is having undesirable thoughts about them, Many Empaths pick them up.
We are in the midst of some challenging times, which are bringing up buried insecurities and hidden issues to the surface within us all. But, instead of facing these issues and taking responsibility, many are projecting their pain onto others in the way of blame. This can be the reason behind psychic attack, as dark thoughts are projected out.
Those who stay in a negative mind-set tend to vibrate at a low-frequency. Their energy becomes toxic to the Empath. Because many Empaths find it difficult being around this type of energy, they may need to disconnect or stop spending time with them. This often causes resentments to form in the other. A psychic attack may then ensue.
Generally, a psychic attack comes from family members (not necessarily blood-related), friends who are close or once used to be, work colleagues, or those who the Empath has disconnected from.
How can you tell when being attacked?
When under psychic attack, the tell-tale signs are repetitive negative thought patterns surrounding one person.
For example: a certain friend (the one thinking and thus sending bad thoughts) repeatedly pops into the mind, along with negatively charged feelings, throughout the course of the day or days. You may wake up thinking angry thoughts towards this person, when you have had no recent contact with them. But you wrongly assume it is your own issues creating the angry thoughts.
When under attack, the one thinking/sending the dark thoughts won’t know you are on the receiving end of them. You probably won’t be the only person the thoughts are directed at, but you may likely be the only one feeling them.
What should you do when you sense a psychic attack?
If you suspect you are under attack, stop indulging the dark thoughts or emotions you are experiencing, immediately. Which has to be said, is not easy to do. By engaging angry thoughts that don’t belong to you, you become part of the problem.
An Empath has the power to project angry thoughts back to the source without realising. But, in doing so, they unintentionally open a two-way psychic battleground. This is when angry thoughts start flying back and forth. It can go on for days. And in these cases, the Empath always comes off worse.
You may have noticed your moods are projected onto others. If feeling happy you lift others up. If sad, you see it wash over those in your presence. Even your tiredness, and stumbling over words, is projected to another.
More than any other, Empaths have to be cautious of what they project into the world in the way of gloomy, angry or irrational thoughts. What goes out has the tendency to come back amplified. (The positive flipside to this is the return of projecting positive thoughts out into the world).
How do we stop engaging dark thoughts?
The easiest way to stop negative thoughts, that don’t belong to you, is distract yourself the moment you notice them; especially if they repeatedly go back to the same person.
You may have already discovered your own way to do this, but making noise in your head can really help, like singing, humming or chanting, etc. Just like plugging in your ears and singing loudly blocks out external sounds, I’ve found this helps with outside thoughts too. You could also try strenuous exercise or get creative as a way of distraction.
How can we protect ourselves from psychic attack?
Being out of balance, physically or mentally, automatically weakens your energy-field (aura). Your energy-field is your invisible shield which protects you from outside influences, such as negative thoughts and emotions. If you have an overly porous or leaky aura (as many Empaths do) you will allow too much energy in from others , including their thoughts. (click here to find out if your aura is leaky)
Suppressed emotions, poor diet, lack of exercise, a busy head, illness and emotional pain all contribute to weakening of the aura (energetic body). If you suspect you have been on the receiving end of psychic attack it might be a good time to tune into your IGS and see what changes could be made.
By strengthening your body and mind (see here for more) it in turn strengthens your aura and thus helps ward off psychic attack or negative energy.
If you are an Empath you will already know that being in public places can be a traumatizing affair. Simply nipping to the shopping mall can mean you end up ‘wearing’ someone else’s energy for the rest of the day. Which isn’t such a bad thing if the energy is positive and highly charged. But it is mostly the not-so-nice energy that follows you home.
Mind = thoughts, ego and emotions
Over the years, I have tried and studied numerous types of holistic healing. I have researched the benefits of food and nutrition on physical and mental health, and how it affects Sensitive people. Through this, I have made many incredible discoveries.
Empaths Empowered 