As an empath, any given regular day can be intense feeling other people’s emotions as if they’re your own.
Let alone during the heightened global state that is 2020’s pandemic, am-I-right?
The media, people on our social feeds, and even our families are going through ALOT right now. And being an empath (as we go through our own major life transitions) can feel downright overwhelming.
Why is that?
As M.D. Judith Orloff put it in Psychology Today, science shows that empaths may:
- Be more sensitive to electromagnetic fields created by the heart
- Have increased dopamine sensitivity
- And even share other people’s emotions such as joy or pain more intensely than the average person through the mirror neuron network
Whatever the recipe, we know that the final product is intense sensitivity to what other people are going through. And when the global state is heightened, such as it is now, it can be an extra intense time to be an empath.
Here are three ways you can come back to love and integrity within yourself, regardless of what those around you are going through.
SPEND SOME TIME ALONE BEING INTROSPECTIVE
Yes, we’re social distancing.
But even though many of us are alone at home, we’re still thumbing through social media, talking to family on the phone, and watching television. And this… is not *really* alone time.
As an empath, even if you’re physically alone, you still can feel other people’s emotions. I know you know this. Think about that time you were home alone, just you and your tissue box, watching your favorite sappy movie.
I see you.
Try grabbing a journal instead. Writing about how you are feeling about what’s happening in your life and the world right now. And spending some time feeling your own emotions instead of everyone else’s.
CREATE SOME NEW BOUNDARIES THAT SUPPORT HOW YOU WANT TO FEEL
It can be easy to feel obligated to talk about certain topics with family, follow friends from high school on Facebook, or stay up-to-date with current media.
But the truth is… you don’t actually have to do any of those things. You’re the curator of your own life. And this means, if you’re not feeling good with your interactions with people, it’s time to explore setting some new boundaries.
RELEASE REACTIVITY AND EMBRACE YOUR INTUITION
Your mom used to ask you, “If they jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?”
And, well, she had a good point.
Just because everyone else is running to the store to raid the toilet paper shelves and is glued to every word the president is saying doesn’t mean you have to, too.
Sure, if it empowers you to be the best version of yourself, go for it.
But if it doesn’t… try asking yourself why you’re doing it. Is it because other people are? Or because it’s really what you want?
Embrace your own innate wisdom to know what’s best for yourself. You don’t need someone to say “I’ve got you, here’s what to do…”
Because YOU absolutely got you.