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Those who pass through other people’s emotions, life is not easy. Especially now, when there is so much suffering around. People who are characterized by empathy absorb someone’s anxieties, resentments, stresses, sorrows all the time, and therefore feel completely exhausted and devastated. How to protect yourself and maintain the ability to empathize?
“Empaths are more sensitive than others to the states of others, so they get tired faster,” writes psychologist Tanya Carroll Richardson. However, it is not at all necessary to put up with constant overloads. They can be reduced and even reduced to zero without losing the ability to empathize. Try to master four simple but effective practices of self-preservation.
Have a grounding ritual
As the psychologist notes, healthy habits are one of the best ways for an empath to reset. And therefore, you should fall asleep and wake up at the same time, walk every evening, listen to thematic podcasts on Mondays, attend virtual yoga classes on Thursdays. In a word – think about what “anchors” you would like to fix in your daily or weekly schedule. It is important that they bring pleasure, help to calm down and restore energy.
Create daily buffers
Imagine that every day you “wrap” your vulnerable emotional perception system in a soft “cocoon” to protect it from external stimuli and recharge your “batteries” in time. What will become your “cocoon” is up to you. Perhaps you will read books before bed or do puzzles with your children, or maybe hug your pets or watch your favorite comedies.
Set up a home oasis of calm
Think about where in your home you feel peace, freedom and inspiration. What smells and sounds should surround you? What do you want to feel? What talismans or special items would be good to place there? How to make this place cozy and beautiful just for you? Set up your own creative “altar”: use candles, pleasant or inspiring images, incense sticks, dried flowers for this. Anything your heart desires will come in handy for this composition.
“Perhaps you will create your own oasis in the bedroom or, for example, in the bathroom, as long as you are comfortable,” writes Richardson.
Turn on spectator mode
This helps to support relatives, friends, colleagues and even strangers without letting their energy and emotions pass through you. Protect your mental balance. Instead of sharing someone’s feelings or trying to change someone’s condition, pay attention to them, but don’t let your heart take over your mind. After all, in fact, others are quite capable of experiencing emotions on their own and need help much less than you think.
Mentally throw a protective cover over yourself. You can also represent a barrier between your own and someone else’s energy body.
Some empaths are afraid of their own sensitivity or feel that it interferes with work and relationships, says the psychologist. Perhaps you, too, perceive empathy as a heavy cross or punishment. But in fact, she is a rare gift. You just need to learn to take care of yourself: then sensitivity will become a blessing, not a curse.