Could You Be An Empath?

Empaths have a tendency to openly sense, feel and pick up on the energy that's around them more so than what's inside of them. This often results in an empath to ignore their own needs. They literally sense others thoughts, feelings and emotions.

In general, an empath is non-violent, non-aggressive and leans more towards being the peacemaker. Any area filled with disharmony creates an array of uncomfortable feelings and emotions inside an empath. If they find themselves in the middle of a confrontation, they will likely attempt to settle the situation as quickly as possible, if not avoid it all together.

If any harsh words are expressed towards them while defending themselves, they will likely resent their lack of self-control, and have a preference to peacefully resolve the problem quickly.

There are many various traits and tendencies that empaths have, so to list or name them ALL would be quite time consuming. Therefore, I have chosen to put the following list of examples together for you, to give you an ideal of what an Empath is and what they tend to do.

Have that sense of knowing.

As an empath, you just "know" things without being told. It’s a sense of knowing that goes way beyond ones intuition or gut feeling, even though this is exactly how many empaths describe "the knowing."

The more in tune you are the stronger this ability becomes.

Crowded public places are overwhelming.

Places like shopping malls, supermarkets or stadiums where there are usually a lot of people around, causes an empath to physically feel an array of turbulently vexed emotions inside themselves, that are coming from other people around them.

Absorbs and feels others emotions and takes them on as you own.

This is a huge one for empaths. To some they will feel emotions off those near by and with others they will feel emotions from those a vast distance away, or both. The more adept and in tuned empath will know if someone is having bad thoughts, feelings and emotions about them, even from great distance.

Watching violence, cruelty or tragedy on the TV is unbearable.

The stronger attuned an empath becomes the worse it is and this may make it so they eventually have to stop watching TV and reading newspapers altogether.

You know when someone is lying and not being honest.

If a friend or a loved one is lying to you or anyone, for that matter, you know and feel it. For a lot of empaths, they try not to focus on this too much because when you know a loved one is lying to you, it's not only painful, it's rather upsetting and causes a lack of trust. If someone is saying one thing but feeling/thinking another, you know.

You're able to pick up physical symptoms of others.

An empath will almost always develop the ailments of another person such as a cold, an eye infections, body aches, pains and even cuts, especially those that you're closest to.

You have digestive disorders and lower back problems.

The solar plexus chakra is located directly below the sternum which is the center of your rib cage at the very top of your abdomen. This has been referred to as the seat of emotions.

The solar plexus area is where most empaths usually physically feel negative energy vibrations of others, which can weaken the area and eventually lead to anything from stomach ulcers, inflammation of the small intestines, pancreatitis, IBS and all sorts of other health conditions. Lower back problems can also develop from your solar plexus being blocked, out of alignment and even uncentered and ungrounded. Usually when one becomes aware that they are an empath, they should learn how to clear, center, ground and protect their own energy field.

An empath will always look out for the underdog.

Anyone whose suffering, in emotional pain or being bullied draws an empath’s attention and compassion.

As an empath, others will want to offload their problems on you, even strangers.

An empath can become a dumping ground for everyone else’s issues and problems, which, if they’re not careful can end up as their own and often exhaust you.

Empaths often experience constant and chronic fatigue.

Empaths are often zapped and drained of their energy, either from energy vampires or just taking on way too much from others, because they just can't say no. It's draining to the point even sleep doesn't cure the fatigue experienced.

Addictive personality.

Alcohol, drugs, sex, are to name but a few addictions that empaths turn to, in an attempt to block out the emotions of others. This a form of self medication and self protection in order to hide from someone or something.

The majority of empaths are drawn to healing, holistic therapies and all things metaphysical.

Although many empaths would love to heal others they can end up turning away from being healers (even though they have a natural ability for it), after they’ve studied and qualified, because they take on too much from the one they are trying to heal. Especially if they are unaware of their empathy.

Also, usually anything of a supernatural nature, is of interest to empaths as if they're drawn to it and they don’t usually get surprise or shocked too easily by it. Even at the discovery of what many others would consider something that's unthinkable, an empaths would simply know the world is round where others believe it was flat.

Empaths are typically highly creative.

Whether it's singing, dancing, acting, drawing or writing an empath tend have a strong creative streak and a vivid imagination.

Empaths have a Love of nature and animals.

Being outdoors in nature is a must for empaths and pets are an essential part of their life.

One of the most common traits of an empath is the need for solitude.

An empath will go absolutely stir-crazy from the inside, out if they don’t get some much needed quiet time to recharge their internal battery, per say. This is even obvious in empathic children.

An empath will becomes bored and easily distracted if not stimulated.

Whether it's in work, school and/or home, the life of an empath has to be kept interesting for the most part or they'll simply shift gears, switch off from whatever it is they're doing and end up daydreaming or doodling.

Empaths often finds it nearly impossible to do things they don’t enjoy.

As previously mentioned, an empath feels as if they're living a lie by doing something without joyous meaning. If you attempt to force an empath to do something they don't enjoy by trying to guilt them into it or label them as idle, this will only make them unhappy or rebellious. This is the main reason many empaths get labeled as being lazy when, in fact they're not. They're just not interested in NOT being entertained by their work or tasks.

Every empath strives for the truth.

This becomes more prevalent when an empath discovers his/her ability and birthright. Anything untruthful feels plain wrong.

They're Always looking for the answers and knowledge.

For an empath to have unanswered questions can be extremely frustrating and they'll usually always make it their mission to find an answer with an explanation. If they have a knowing about something they will look for confirmation. The downside to this is information overload.

Empaths love adventure, freedom and travel.

Empaths are free spirits.

Empaths are extremely overwhelmed by clutter. It also makes an them feel weighed down and blocks the flow of energy.

Empaths loves to daydream.

An empath can stare off into space for hours, in a world of their own and remain blissfully happy.

Empaths finds routine, rules or control, imprisoning.

Anything that takes away their freedom is debilitating to an empath even poisoning. So needless to say, they don't take to well to authority but don't go out of their way to break the rules.

Empaths are prone to carry weight without necessarily overeating.

The excess weight is a form of protection to stop the negative incoming energies having as much impact.

Empaths are excellent listeners.

An empath won’t necessarily talk too much about themselves unless it’s to someone they really trust. They love to learn and know about others and genuinely care.

Empaths are highly intolerance to narcissistic behaviors.

Although kind and often very tolerant of others, empaths do not like to be around overly egotistical people, who put themselves first and refuse to consider another’s feelings or points of view other than their own. That said, they are also magnets for a narcissistic person.

Some empaths have the ability to feel the days of the week.

An empath will get the ‘Friday Feeling’ if they work Fridays or not. They pick up on how the collectives are feeling. The first couple of days of a long, bank holiday weekend (Easter for example) can feel, to them, like the world is smiling, calm and relaxed. Sunday evenings, Mondays and Tuesdays, of a working week, have a very heavy feeling.

A lot of empaths will choose to not buy antiques, vintage or second-hand.

Anything that’s been pre-owned carries the energy of the previous owner. An empath will even prefer to have a brand new car or house (if they are in the financial situation to do so) with no residual energy.

Some empaths sense the energy of food.

Many empaths don’t like to eat meat or poultry because they can feel the vibrations of the animal (especially if the animal suffered), even if they like the taste.

Most empaths appear moody, shy and/or spastic.

Depending on how an empath is feeling, in the moment, will also depend on what "face" they show to the world. They're prone to mood swings and if they’ve taken on too much negative energy they'll become quiet, unsociable, and in some instances completely miserable.

It isn't uncommon for an empath to refuse "to pretend" to be happy when they’re not and this only adds to those around them to think of them as being spastic and makes working in the public service industry, very challenging for them and will often lead to them leaving this line of work.

If you can identify with most, if not all of the above, then you may, very well be an empath.