Dealing with Empathy

Courtesy of parablev @ deviantART

Empathy is the most common spiritual skill - and for a good reason. Humankind is, by nature, quite sociable, and always longing for connection of some sort. With this longing for connection comes a natural inclination to pick up on the emotions of others. Many people possess the skill of empathy but don't refer to it as "spiritual," because they often equate it with sympathy. Sympathy and empathy are two different things. While sympathy is the mere acknowledgement of another's emotions - usually suffering - empathy is the experience. One has to feel the emotion for his or herself to be called an empath.

Dealing with empathy is a struggle for many individuals. Most see the gift as a curse because they have no idea how to control or deal with it. Being in highly populated places may result in emotional agony. But there are ways to manage this gift.

Now, in this "soul sisterhood" of ours, Lulu is the stronger empath, so these suggestions are really all hers. Finny only experiences empathy with Lulu - at least for now. 

So if you're an empath struggling under your gift, here are a few friendly tips on how to deal with it:

• If you're starting to feel a strong emotion, ask yourself: "Is this how I'm feeling? Is this emotion coming from me or someone else?"
•  Once you've established this, identify the individual whose feeling you may be absorbing if it's not your own.
• If the emotion isn't your own, tell yourself that you can accept this feeling and move on, because it doesn't belong to you. Be gentle - don't try to push it away with force.
• Visualizing a shield, a white aura, or any other kind of bubble can help you deal with more negative energies. However, avoid "mirroring" emotions. Many people tend to want to construct mirrors or walls that are meant to "deflect" incoming emotions, but when you do this, you are reflecting those emotions onto other people. Some may be more aware of it than others, but it's better if you create a visual shield that allows the emotion to pass through you - just in a gentler, more tolerable way.
• Grounding and centering can help bunches, as well. If you pick up on a strong negative energy, ground it (visualize roots or anything else that suits you) so you don't have to carry it with you.
• If you're absolutely sure it's coming from someone else, it's probably a strong connection, in which case it's advised to step up all the aforementioned points. Ask your spirit team for assistance, such as an "emergency" shutdown of empathic ability if it gets to be too much. Lulu, for instance, imagines herself "slamming the door" to make it clear she wants nothing to enter. 
• On the other hand, if you feel as though you're picking up on the emotions of many (like a melting pot), go through with the aforementioned points anyway. 
• If the emotion persists, you might want to consider that it may be your own energy.
• Be confident, but don't be forceful. You are in charge of your ability and you are definitely in charge of your space. 

Empathy doesn't have to be a curse. Remind yourself just how beautiful it is for you to be connecting with so many of your kin - even if these connections bring about suffering. When you can empathize with someone, you can really help to heal them - and healing is what this world needs most right now.

Best of luck,
Lulu and Finny xx