Two Defining Traits of Empaths Explained

Have you ever asked yourself, “Am I an Empath?”

Over the years, I’ve been asked this many times. And my answer is usually the same: If you are an Empath, when you come across the term and its traits, something clicks. It feels like a light has been switched on. Suddenly, all the emotions and experiences you’ve carried start to make sense. But of course, not everyone has that instant recognition.

In this post, we’ll explore two core traits that truly define what it means to be an Empath.

Why It Matters

While labels aren’t everything, understanding yourself is a powerful step in your personal growth. Knowing if you’re an Empath can help you make better choices, protect your energy, and find emotional balance.

It’s also important to note: what works for an Empath may not work for someone who is simply sensitive. For instance, healing from someone else’s emotional energy is different from healing your own past trauma.

In the end, we all want to live well, to feel stable, happy, and purposeful. Understanding who we are, and what strengthens or drains us, helps us get there.

The Two Traits That Set Empaths Apart

Many sensitive people share traits with Empaths. But two traits clearly stand out:

The ability to feel or read emotional energy from others
Deep, often overwhelming empathy

Let’s break those down.

Feeling Emotions and Energy That Aren’t Yours

Empaths don’t just pick up on others’ feelings, they feel them as if they’re their own. This includes emotions, pain, moods, and even physical sensations.

An Empath might:

Feel anxious or low when around someone carrying sadness or stress
Suddenly become angry or irritable when near someone suppressing rage
Get an unsettled feeling in the stomach when others are hiding emotional wounds
Absorb the mood of a room, even without anyone saying a word
Take on someone’s habits or energy, especially if that person is dominant

And often, they don’t need to be in the same space. They can sense strong emotions from afar.

Heightened Empathy

Empaths feel everything deeply. They care about how their words or actions affect others and often replay situations where they think they might have caused harm—even unintentionally.

They’re incredibly thoughtful, but still human. They can get angry or upset, especially if overwhelmed. But they’ll often feel guilt or regret long after the moment has passed.

Empaths also feel deep discomfort when witnessing pain—whether it’s someone close to them or even a stranger or animal on the news. They’ll often push themselves to show up for others, even when tired or unwell, just to avoid letting someone down.

But if someone continues to hurt them, an Empath will eventually walk away—for good.

This doesn’t mean sensitive people don’t care or feel deeply. But in Empaths, empathy runs so strongly it can take time to understand why others don’t experience life the same way

What About Intuition?

I almost included heightened intuition as a key trait. And while most Empaths are very intuitive, you can be intuitive without being an Empath. That said, many Empaths rely on their intuitive senses to navigate life. They pick up on energies, atmospheres, and unspoken truths more clearly than most.

So, Are You an Empath?

If you’ve read this and parts of it feel like a match, there’s a good chance you are. And if you already know you’re an Empath, I hope this helps you better understand the depth of your traits.

Want to explore more signs and traits of an Empath? [Click here to read more.]