Are you an empath?

When I ask clients this question, many of them respond, “Doesn’t everyone have empathy?” The short answer is yes — but having empathy and being an empath are different. And whether you are an empath or not doesn’t mean you are good or bad. However, knowing what an empath is can increase your self awareness and build better relationships with others.

What is an empath?

Let’s start with a basic definition, an empath is someone that is able to feel the emotions of others. An empath may or may not physically feel the pain of others and are highly sensitive to energy. They pick up on the vibe in a room very quickly and can sense when something is off. If you are unsure whether or not you are an empath, take a look at the following list and see if it resonates with you.

Signs You Are An Empath:

You have strong emotions that have nothing to do with you.
Watching news, sad movies or shows makes you emotional.
You physically feel other people’s pain.
You can tell when something is off without any verbal or physical clues.
You pick up on the energy of a room.
You get sick or feel pain when there are big changes in your environment.
You are attuned to the phases of the moon.
You have an affinity with plants and/or animals.
You have a calming presence with others.
Other people seek you out and share personal information with you — even strangers.
Crowds are overwhelming.

Yes, I’m An Empath

Even if you agreed with one or two of the items listed above, it is likely you are an empath. Being highly sensitive to other people’s energy can be an amazing gift because you intuitively know how people are feeling and what level their suffering is. Empaths make incredible caretakers and often find themselves in roles of a healer and confident. The world needs healers now more than ever so share your gift with the world now that you know what it is.

As much as being an empath can be a gift, it is also important to able to conserve your energy. Empaths get drained or overwhelmed more frequently than others because they are processing all of the energy in an environment not just your own. So take extra care and create boundaries that benefit and nourish you. Ensure that your needs are met so that you can avoid being depleted when you are called to be of service to others.

Nope, I am not An Empath

And that’s great too! Now that you know the signs of an empath, you can recognize it in others. It is likely you have friends and loved ones that are empaths. Being able to identify it in others can help you build stronger relationships because you have a better understanding of how they function. They are more sensitive than other people because they are processing a lot of information at one time. You can trust in the instincts of an empath, so listen to them when they say something is off. Also, its a good practice to ask permission before unloading heavy information on empaths. They don’t always know how to create boundaries, so simply say something like, “Do you have the space to hear me out right now?”. You’ll get much better care and attention when they have the energy to listen.

Looking For Understanding

Whether you are an empath or not, you can use this information to help yourself and others. We all have empathy so use this information to build healthy boundaries with others. You will find your relationships improve once you understand and respect where the other person is coming from.

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11 Signs You Are An Empath