ARE YOU AN EMPATH?
You may always be helping others, but at what personal cost?
For many of us, feeling overwhelmed, anxious or drained at various times, or by certain people or environments, is nothing new. Are you the person who always seems to attract people in need of assistance and finds yourself listening to their life stories and being asked for advice even though you have no experience in their situation? It’s possible you could be an empath.
WHAT MAKES AN EMPATH?
An empath is someone who not only has empathy for others and their situations but can also absorb the energy of places and the people around them. Empaths view helping others as almost a kind of calling, and they do find it genuinely gratifying. However, they must also find time to care for themselves, otherwise they are no use to anyone!
These five steps will give you the energy needed to support yourself and others...
1 CLEANSE YOUR ENERGY
Next time you’re standing under the showerhead, cleanse your energy with this simple statement: “Please wash away what’s not mine. Please wash away what no longer serves me.” This will ensure you aren’t holding onto stagnant energy that will eventually become draining for you.
2 BE GROUNDED
Grounding your energy helps to bring balance and allows you to stay authentic and safe, while still retaining your empathy. Find a time to place your feet flat on the ground and imagine the soles of your feet rooting themselves into the earth. As you do this, say the words, “Feet connect to Mother Earth.” You can do this wherever you are, and as many times as you feel you need.
3 PROTECT YOURSELF
To prevent your energy from being zapped away by others, an intentional protection ritual is a must! Visualise yourself in a bubble of white light where you feel safe and protected, or try to imagine that you’re inside a transparent gold pyramid. Do this every morning, or whenever you feel the need.
4 DEFINE BOUNDARIES
It’s hard sometimes to accept that you can’t help everyone, and feeling helpless can be a common struggle for empaths. But, you also need to have a life too, and establishing some boundaries around who, when and how you help others can be a life changer. This can be tricky but it will be worth it!
5 HONOUR YOUR INNER EMPATH
It’s in your nature, your heart and it will always be a part of who you are. Helping people is what you do best and finding healthy ways to do this will help keep you feeling fulfilled. Try volunteering or if you are considering a new job, look for roles in health care and education.