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 Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:10 pm
As an empath, and since there really isn't that much regarding empathy by way of a thread, sticky, etc. I decided that I would start a thread.
Sorry in advance in case this is in the wrong spot people...
If you think I'm wrong, missed something, or have some advice, please feel free to post.
The main things that I am going to focus on are as follows:
1) how to tell that you are an empath
2) any techniques/shielding/etc. that I find relevant
3) define empathy and sympathy clearly
Anything else that needs to be added?
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Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:15 pm
Regarding the definition of an empath: From Wiki: Quote: Empathy (from the Greek εμπάθεια, "to suffer with") is commonly defined as one's ability to recognize, perceive and directly experientially feel the emotion of another. As the states of mind, beliefs, and desires of others are intertwined with their emotions, one with empathy for another may often be able to more effectively define another's modes of thought and mood. Empathy is often characterized as the ability to "put oneself into another's shoes", or experiencing the outlook or emotions of another being within oneself, a sort of emotional resonance. From dictionary.com: Quote: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source Main Entry: em·pa·thy Pronunciation: 'em-p&-thE Function: noun Inflected Form: plural -thies 1 : the imaginative projection of a subjective state into an object so that the object appears to be infused with it 2 : the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also : the capacity for empathy Quote: American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source empathy [(em-puh-thee)] Identifying oneself completely with an object or person, sometimes even to the point of responding physically, as when, watching a baseball player swing at a pitch, one feels one's own muscles flex. SYMPATHY: Wiki: Quote: Sympathy is an emotional affinity in which whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other, and its synonym is pity. Sympathy comes from the Latin sympatha, from Greek: συμπάθεια transliterated as sympatheia, from συν + πάσχω = συμπάσχω literally: to suffer together also: affected by like feelings or emotion. Thus the essence of sympathy is that a person's feelings reflect or are like those of another or that a person suffers as a response to, or because of, another person's suffering. Sympathy exists when the feelings or emotions of one person give rise to similar feelings in another person, creating a state of shared feeling. In common usage, sympathy is usually the sharing of unhappiness or suffering, but it can also refer to sharing other (positive) emotions as well. In a broader sense, it can refer to the sharing of political or ideological sentiments, such as in the phrase "a communist sympathiser". The psychological state of sympathy is closely linked with that of empathy, but is not identical to it. Empathy refers to the ability to perceive and directly experientially feel another person's emotions as they feel them, but makes no statement as to how they are viewed. Sympathy, by contrast, implies a degree of equal feeling, that is, the sympathiser views the matter similarly to how the person themselves does. It thus implies concern, or care or a wish to alleviate negative feelings others are experiencing. Thus it is possible to be: * Empathetic but not sympathetic, by internally experiencing another's feeling but not being motivated to alleviating action as a result (eg, a lust killer who is aroused by his victim's fear, or a con artist who knows how his mark feels but uses it to manipulate not support). * Sympathetic but not empathetic by realising (perhaps cognitively) someone is upset and wanting to alleviate that, but not experiencing their sense of upset directly and internally as an emotional state within themselves (eg, a person at a help desk who sees another in distress, does not feel distress themselves, but tries to find what is wrong and help them anyway).
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Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:17 pm
Quote: Traits of an Empath Empaths are often quiet and can take a while to handle a compliment for they're more inclined to point out another's positive attributes. They are highly expressive in all areas of emotional connection, and talk openly, and, at times, quite frankly in respect to themselves. They may have few problems talking about their feelings. However, they can be the exact opposite: reclusive and apparently unresponsive at the best of times. They may even appear ignorant. Some are very good at blocking out others and that's not always a bad thing, at least for the learning empath struggling with a barrage of emotions from others, as well as their own feelings. Empaths have a tendency to openly feel what is outside of them more so than what is inside of them. This can cause empaths to ignore their own needs. In general an empath is non-violent, non-aggressive and leans more towards being the peacemaker. Any area filled with disharmony creates an uncomfortable feeling in an empath. If they find themselves in the middle of a confrontation, they will endeavor to settle the situation as quickly as possible, if not avoid it all together. If any harsh words are expressed in defending themselves, they will likely resent their lack of self-control, and have a preference to peacefully resolve the problem quickly. Empaths are sensitive to TV, videos, movies, news and broadcasts. Violence or emotional dramas depicting shocking scenes of physical or emotional pain inflicted on adults, children or animals can bring an empath easily to tears. At times, they may feel physically ill or choke back the tears. Some empaths will struggle to comprehend any such cruelty, and will have grave difficulty in expressing themselves in the face of another's ignorance, closed-mindedness and obvious lack of compassion. They simply cannot justify the suffering they feel and see. People of all walks of life and animals are attracted to the warmth and genuine compassion of empaths. Regardless of whether others are aware of one being empathic, people are drawn to them as a metal object is to a magnet! They are like beacons of light. Even complete strangers find it easy to talk to empaths about the most personal things, and before they know it, they have poured out their hearts and souls without intending to do so consciously. It is as though on a sub-conscious level that person knows instinctively that empaths would listen with compassionate understanding. Here are the listeners of life. Empaths are often problem solvers, thinkers, and studiers of many things. As far as empaths are concerned, where a problem is, so too is the answer. They often will search until they find one--if only for peace of mind. Written By Christel Broederlow Copyright (c) 2002 Christel Broederlow Shortened Version from The Empath Report 101
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Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:19 pm
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Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:14 pm
Thank you for your contribution! Very informative. I'd certainly like to see more posts like this one.
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Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:50 pm
Exercises (Sylvia Brallier): Quote: Develop Your Shield Body Around your physical body, there is a layer of your aura that is devoted to your interface with your environment. Its shape and condition indicate your relationship to your world. People who are empaths often have a "thin skin" in relation to their shield body. When it has holes in it, we are more easily influenced by our environment. Visualize a shield of energy around your physical body. See is as radiant and complete. You may see it as a particular color. Some people like to see it as white or gold. Decide what color would work well for you, and see it that way. Imagine the shield body as flowing and moving..not static we are developing a shield here..not armor. It is good for it to be flexible, so you can let in what serves you, and keep out what doesn't. Snap your fingers to hold it in place. Do this exercise regularly. Quote: Center of Being Once you have the shield body in place, imagine that there is a spark in the center of your being that is your pure essence. Focus your attention on the spark, being all your senses to bear. Also be aware of your sensations, emotions and thoughts. First try this when you are alone, and then, after a time, practice it around others. See if you can switch your awareness from your environment to your self, and back again. Notice the difference between the two. There are more on the following link, including the two that I posted. http://healing.about.com/od/empathic/a/empathessential_2.htm
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Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:53 pm
Interesting factoid: Empaths are also known as Higly Sensitive People(persons). This can be used to help search for information online also.
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Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:35 pm
Ohh~ Awesome!
I am an empath myself, and this has been awesome information and help for me. I should get to working on things like that and develope my abilities. I'm known to be -too- sensitive at times, not to mention hypocondriac. If anyone just -talks- about a sickness I think I have it. I'm rather prone to paranoia and anxiety too nowadays.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:54 pm
I'm one too.
I've gotten a great deal of help from my nana and a ghost forum I frequent.
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