I am an Empath!
What does that even mean?!
By Amanda Rae
Have you ever laid in bed at night and tried to make sense of all the emotions that you felt throughout your day? Or wondered why some things seemed to effect you more then those around you? I have. Matter of fact, I have been this way ever since I can remember.
I lost track how many times I was told I was too sensitive, toughen up, it was all in my head, I make things harder then it has to be, blah blah blah. I never could understand how anyone could see it any differently. I mean, didn’t they feel this way? Didn’t they notice these things? Couldn’t they pick up on other peoples physical pain? I could certainly feel their emotions, it didn’t make sense to me, but I could feel it. I didn’t spend much time asking myself why I felt them. But I did spend a great deal of time trying to figure out how to NOT feel them.
I would rack my brain of that days events and try to match the emotions I felt- to pair them up so I could somehow understand how to let them go. I did this for years, trying to find ways to “fix my feelings” so I wasn’t so sensitive and could be “normal” like everyone else. Of course, the only thing I could come up with is that I was doing something wrong.
I felt like I was in a tornado. The good, the bad, all together, mixed up and served at once. Some days were great, others.. yeah well not so much. Even if I had a great day, it just didn’t make sense.
It took me years to find a word for what I experienced. And by years, I mean three decades! It felt like nothing short of a miracle to read the difinition and feel the truth of those words resignate all through my body. It was like a volcano errupted and out came all these celebrating trumpets! I mean seriously!
I am an Empath.
An Empath is a person with the paranormal ability to apprehend the mental or emotional state of another individual. – Oxford Dictionary
An Empath is someone with the ability to feel the thoughts, emotions, and energy of others, and often times are affected by these influences.
Not every person is an empath. There is a difference between empathy and an empath. The definition of empathy the ability to understand someone’s thoughts and feelings from their perspective instead of your own. Empaths can understand you even if they haven’t any experiences that are similar to yours.
Empaths area acutely aware of their surroundings. Just by interacting with those around them, they can pick up on thoughts, feelings, physical pains, sensations and discomforts. For this reason, large groups of people can be quite overwhelming.
Absorbing the emotions and energy around them can be difficult to deal with, especially for those who are unaware of why they are feeling this way. This was a struggle of mine, because I loved people and enjoyed spending time with my friends and family. I was unable to pinpoint where the sudden mix of thoughts, feelings and emotions came from because the last thing I knew, I was emotionally content, and had no physical discomforts!
I enjoyed hanging out with my friends, going to family get togethers, malls, concerts, etc, but I also looked forward to going home and spending time alone. Being alone gave me a chance to unwind, relax and detach myself from all that I experienced when I was around people. I found that listening to music helped me a lot. I somehow intuitively knew from a young age, that I needed to withdraw and music helped me do that. I found peace, comfort, healing and an escape through many different kinds of music.
Everything I experience hits me deep, raw, and intense. As an Empath I feel the energy of myself and others. As I age, this ability only grows deeper and stranger. -Sylvester McNutt III
Signs you are an Empath:
You are able to feel the energy of places or rooms.
You are easily affected by the moods of others.
You feel others’ emotions in your body and mind as though they belong to you.
You are a great listener. You find others open up to you easily. It doesn’t matter who, what or where, people find you easy to talk to. They tell you their situations and struggles that tend to come with heavy emotions. Even at the checkout in the grocery store.
You carry the weight of the burdens of others with you for several days after your interactions with them.
You get emotionally drained by crowds and require time alone to rejuvenate after being in a group.
You see through hypocrisies and lies so much that you feel compelled to point out the truths or to take actions- especially if it effects someone else. You can’t bare the thought of someone being wronged.
You have a hard time saying no. You feel guilty or would rather avoid conflict then offer your truth or to set boundaries.
You tend to put others needs before your own, ignoring your own needs for physical, emotional and mental wellness. When this happens, our body begins to “throw up flairs” in attempts to get your attention. If that doesn’t work, it can manifest in many forms of “dis-ease.”
You have a tendancy to overthink everything.
The news is almost unbarable to watch or listen to.
Your intuition is highly accurate.
You feel drawn to help others.
The weather effects your mood.
You can feel things sometimes before they happen.
You have a tendency to suffer from digestive disorders, anxiety, or panic attacks. Emotion is felt in our guts, through our Sacral Chakra, which is located in the stomach area.
I am in Empath, now what?
Here are a few things that helped me get started.
- Reading uplifting books, articles and blogs about being an Empath.
- Listen to Podcasts or audio-books that share facts, stories and advice about self care and survival tips.
- Check out You Tube for coaches, mentors and teachers to learn from. Be cautious and make sure they are an energetic match for you. Anyone who gave me an off feeling- even in the slightest bit -was a no for me.
- Start a journal- write about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This helped me clear my mind and often led me to a greater understanding of myself.
- Meditation. Meditation. Meditation. I started with short, simple guided meditations that focused on breath work. The more comfortable I became with meditation, the greater my variety became. Relax and take a carefree approach, just enjoy the calmness meditation has to offer. There are many you tube meditations and apps for your smart devices that make it so easy!
- Breath work! Learn breathing exercises and techniques to help you manage energy and emotions. These can be done during meditation or when you find yourself needing to come back to center, grounding your energy.
- Spend time in nature.
- Epsom salt baths for relaxation- MY favorite! Especially while listening to a meditation using my earbuds! Oooh it is divine!
- Essential oils- Calming and relaxing properties are a must, make sure they are high quality and not made with synthetic ingredients. Diffuse them in the air for an excellent aromatherapy treatment. Dilute them with a carrier oil and apply topically or add them to your bathwater!
- Spend time with like minded individuals! Check your local area or join a online community and meet others like you! Head to my Facebook page, Amanda Rae Golden Heart Healing and join my NEW private Facebook group! Journey of the Heart!
I learned that it was vital that I accepted and held space for my own emotions, even the strongest ones. I used meditation and breath work to keep myself centered and grounded. This allowed me to learn how to witness the emotional energy of others without attaching it to myself.
Being an Empath is a beautiful gift. It is challenging at times, I won’t lie about that. God made me an empath, and there was nothing I could do to change that. But in order to accept myself, I had to learn about myself. Once I learned that I was not ‘too sensitive’, ‘broken’ or ‘doing something wrong’, I was able to see that being an empath wasn’t bad after all! Matter of fact, it is quite the opposite! I have found I am able to use that extra ability to connect with others in a deeper, more meaningful way.
I did lots of research, found teachers and mentors that really spoke to my heart. I stepped out of my comfort zone and signed up to work with one of them whom I resignated with the most. So many questions were answered, some of them I didn’t even know I had. I began to understand myself on a new level, through my creators perspective, not what others had said I was, or wasn’t. Today, I am thankful for my journey, my story, my struggles and my celebrations. Without those, I wouldn’t have been given the opportunity to share my story and to work with people who are just like me.
Do you think that you might be an Empath? Can you relate to my story? Have you experienced some of what I listed above? You are not alone. Once I found out that there was a word that could explain many things about me, I felt a peace that I had never felt before. I felt validated. It was a relief to know that I was not alone.
Love and Blessings,
Amanda Rae
If you are interested in working with me to help you find some answers, schedule an appointment! I would be happy to help you on your journey! Head to my website www.Amandaraegoldenhearthealing.com and click on Work With Me.
