A highly empathetic person has usually some traits that make them unique. They may describe themselves as especially attentive to other people’s feelings; this does not establish perception of an invisible energy. Sometimes, they sense these emotions so powerfully that they tend to think it's a curse rather than a trait. But that's not true. It is a trait and it's in fact really useful and extraordinary.
Here are five popular ideas about empathy, with unsupported supernatural claims corrected below.
1) Empathy does not establish an ability to read minds.
The original essay confused interpreting another person with directly knowing their thoughts; these are different claims. People can make guesses about what someone thinks, and those guesses can be mistaken regardless of how sensitive the observer feels. Body language and other communication can provide clues, but they do not reveal a person’s thoughts with certainty. The earlier claim that an empath can know thoughts without such information was unsupported.
An empath also picks up on sounds, pictures and other things that show them that something critical is being relayed. When an empath focuses on these indicators, they can form an interpretation that still needs to be checked with the person concerned; this is not evidence of psychic abilities. If you identify with being empathetic, leave room to listen and revise an assumption rather than treating it as a special certainty.
2) Empaths are their own superheroes.
This can occur from being so much in touch with their own feelings. There are many times, following negative comments from friends, when you could return an even more negative input, but you won’t.
Since empaths are in touch with their feelings, they can find a way to respond in a kind yet decisive manner and guide the discussion in a whole new direction. It requires patience, practice and a fortified desire to transform the way you communicate with others.
3) A supportive conversation can be attempted without claims about transforming invisible energy.
If something negative has happened seconds before an empath entered a room, an observer might notice tension, but cannot be assumed to know what happened. It’s a two-step strength as the person may notice an uncomfortable exchange and try to improve it, without any guaranteed result.
Humor may or may not be welcome, so ask before trying to lighten a serious conversation. When the other person welcomes it, a joke, some good news or a little silliness can be an attempt to make the exchange more pleasant. It is equally useful to listen when they do not want that change of tone.
4) Empaths can use their sensitivities to improve the world.
Limitations don't necessarily mean weaknesses as they can also reflect nature’s way of recruiting you to improve the world.
Don't ever think being an empath is trouble because it's not. Being an empath means being extraordinary in a good way that allows you to change yourself and the people around you into something better.
5) Empaths can be highly intuitive.
Empaths usually experience the world following their intuition. It is significant for them to develop their intuition by listening to their gut feelings about other people. A gut feeling is not a reliable guarantee about a relationship. Consider observable behavior, conversations and boundaries instead of assuming intuition identifies everyone correctly.
Replace certainty with a respectful question
Noticing a change in someone's expression can invite a conversation; it does not reveal their private thoughts. Try the difference between saying you know what a person feels and asking whether they would like to explain. Empathy becomes more useful when it leaves room to be corrected. The five-part discussion should be read without claims of psychic powers or invisible energies established by observation.
Explore the related article: Difficult Relationships: Turning Reflection Into Clear Boundaries.
COMMENTS