Personally, I don't believe in 'empaths.' Rather, I believe that everyone is an 'empath' by the definition given.
Behavioral studies conducted on mice by the University of Chicago recently show that even they perform selfless acts when their fellow mice are in peril. As we do not conventionally think of mice as being 'reasoning' creatures, it follows that this altruism is hardwired into their DNA ... and presumably, ours as well.
To examine the opposite end of the spectrum, people diagnosed with sociopathy - a mental disorder marked by the inability to experience 'empathy' - lends further credence to this claim. Possessing empathy is such a universal trait that lacking it constitutes a mental disorder!
If someone can completely lack empathy, then most people occupy varying points on an 'empathetic spectrum.' People lauded as 'empaths' are just higher on this scale towards 'total altruism,' meaning they are better at sharing the sensations and emotions of others than most.
However, the capacity is within each and every one of us. And though empathy has biological roots, there is a component of practice and personal growth that contributes to its flourishing. In other words, it can also be learned ... and perhaps even taught.
Do any empaths have some insight? Perhaps I'm thinking about it all wrong.
good point however, there's a difference between an Empath and Empathy.
your definition is empathy, and every human [excluding most psychopaths] and even some animals [rats for instance] have the ability to feel, and have demonstrated at one point in their lives, empathy for another.
an empath can pick up on someones feelings in a crowded room. they'll walk in and feel an overwhelming sense of joy, or sorrow, or anger, or whatever. not from the kid sitting in the corner, an empath can feel the deep emotions of someone who seems perfectly fine, and no one would be the wiser. the Empath can sense great despair from this person [or joy or whatever] even if they aren't acting it or showing any signs of this fact.
you do make an excellent point though, people must keep a level head, look to all the logical explanations of a situation before falling back to psychic powers, spirits, magic, or whatever else to explain the occurrence.
Not only can they walk into a room, and feel the emotions of others, they can sense through written words as well, some able to tell how you are feeling by a simple key stroke- on the other side of the world. If you tell them it is snowing- they can actually start to be cold- They are sensitive yes, and the emotions can be felt on a deeper level. Empathy indicated you can feel for a persons situation, however an empath- can take on the others emotions and literally "feel" the emotions of another. Not only this- but with it comes a sense of "knowing". They feel a sadness, and know why the person is sad. Both are signs of being intune with ones Self, however it is the level/degree that separates. As an empath, you can absorb the energy around you, intuitive is knowing it is there.
Empathy is by definition: Empathy = is one's ability to recognize, perceive, and feel directly the emotions of another. The word itself, is derived from the Greek words "empatheia" meaning "passion" and "pathein" meaning to experience or suffer.
Being an empath- is not only being able to have empathy for another, but to a higher degree than most. Empaths often have to protect themselves more than others- they are the ones whom if they are with someone- literally can be brought down in less than an hour of being around them. In the beginning- empaths have a difficult time discerning what emotions are theirs, versus what they have felt from another. An Empath reads body language, tone of voice, body movements, the words people choose when they speak, the words they avoid, the logic they use; and the hidden things that only an Empath can sense inside another person.
In todays day and age, it is a term that has been thrown around, which has almost devalued its true meaning. It is considered a blessing and a curse to those whom possess it- but the following articles should help, as it is where I referenced some of what I posted. I also feel that empaths are different than those who can be empathetic- I know those who are empathetic- but someone upset does not cause them to become upset, where as an empath, would become upset as they would take on the others Emotions
Most people posses the bases of empath which is selflessness but someone who can use empathy is a person who can read a persons aura or even mind in some cases to see what's wrong. Someone who is good at empathy can actually use that instant bond that develops that allows them to read a person to influence them. For instance and an angry child can swayed into being happy. It takes years of practice but is possible. Most empathy users can feel the emotions if every single person in a room. It's a gift(by genetics) that is given to someone at birth or someone find it in themselves by luck. Empathy is extremely different from empath. Empathy can read someone's body language color and voice sway to determine what's up with someone. Empathy which are people who are also empath but a different kind can be two rooms over and know what they feel. It's two whole different animals.
According to me Empaths are gifted people . They possess many psychic abilities. They can sense the emotions of others . Not only sensing, but they can experience the feeling others as if it is their own . Also they can read a person like a book . Empaths have other abilities as well. They have the ability to mentally, emotionally and spiritually heal a person. They have spiritual healing energies in them. People in need of healing(exhausted or wounded souls) are automatically attracted towards empaths due to this energy. Empaths themselves attract such people in their life.
Being a empath is a spiritual trait . They are kind , merciful, caring and helping . They can know a person deeply by just being with them for a week or two (in some extreme cases a few days). They have little bit clairvoyance in them . Also, they are living lie detectors . You can't lie to an empath as there is no use of it. Empaths have a photographic memory. They can remember things at one glance. Empaths have a lot of positivity in them.
Empaths are hyper sensitive in terms of energy and vibration. They can sense the vibes of an area . They know if a place has positivity or negativity and can tell that how intense that energy is. Another trait of an empath is attracting energies. They attract all energies they come in contact with be it positive or negative. But when they attract negative energies, then it sticks to them causing suffocation and exhaustion to them. This negative energy can come from anywhere or anyone. A negative person or place are main sources of such energies. If an empath does not dump this negativity he/she will get exhausted. This is why empaths are attracted towards nature . Nature takes away such energies and gives them healing . An empath should regularly connect with nature or else he/she is unable seek true happiness.
Empaths are mostly introverts and they always desire solace and peace . In solitude, they are lost in their own world of dreams and fantasies.
Empathic souls are sent to this world to heal the minds of people, to help those who are exhausted from their life, to cure the hearts of those who are deeply hurt from the inside and promote the feeling of mercy , kindness, humanity and love among us.
There are many other traits and abilities of empaths . People may consider being one as a blessing. It really is, but still every boon comes along with a curse .
Narcissistic people can use them and their healing energies. Manipulators can captivate them in their web of manipulation. Gossipers can use their trust on humanity to fulfil their own sneaky goals . Negative people including the above three can transmit their negativity to the empath . And all this can exhaust the empaths.
Hence ,it is necessary for an empath to follow proper protection techniques to maintain their energy and inner peace .
To feel empathy is to "Feel" what the emotion of a room or living thing is experiencing. However, it's hard to decipher. My aunt is a psychologist and has told me on multiple occassions that I've been more sensitive to everything than most of her clients she has worked with. It's hard becuase there are times that I try to avoid people as their emotions can overwhealm me. It's hard to explain but I feel the other persons emotions on the same level they do. Kind of like a mirror if you call it that.
It's hard for me to not be able to help someone when they are depressed, becuase i can feel it and hate feeling the sadness.
I read a novel titled "An empaths survival guide". The author has said that one of the reasons for empaths to feel the way they do is something with their neurological state, perhaps extra sensitive??
Oh , I forgot to mention that empaths feel suffocation in crowded areas . This is because they are hyper sensitive to energy. The enormous amount of energy of a lot of people present in the crowd overwhelms an empath. This also due to the fact that empaths love solace. Hence, they should avoid crowded areas.
I know that for a fact for I am one. Though I have been trying to come up with a method to help me since I work in a restaurant and dispite the limited amount of people I still get overwhelmed. So yeah empaths are more sensitive to the people around them than empaths.
