expandedconsciousness.

com

4 Popular Myths And Misconceptions

About Being An Empath
Posted By Expanded Consciousness on April 4, 2015

by ALETHEIA LUNA

Thin-skinned, hyper-sensitive, sooky, wimpy, spineless, wussy,

feeble, weak, fragile, melodramatic, temperamental

If you can relate to, or have been called a combination of any of

these words, chances are youre part of a unique group of people:
the Empaths.

Occurring in an estimated 5% of the population, Empaths are

known for their highly developed ability to sense the emotions and
thoughts of the people around them. As author and Empath
Christel Broederlow put it empaths often possess the ability to
sense others on many different levels, this includes the abilities to
intimately understand what a person desires, yearns for, and is
currently feeling, suffering or thinking, as well as the ability to feel
other peoples bodily illnesses. These occurances manifest
themselves as energy vibrations that the finely tuned Empath can
pick up on, or tune into.

Commonly identifying as clairsentients and HSPs, Empaths

possess an ability that is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand,
the Empath is an excellent listener and counsellor, knowing the
best way to comfort and assist those around them. On the other,
being an Empath can be painful and tiring. Its common for the
Empath to be weighed down and constantly congested with the
negative emotional energy of others, often creating physical and
psychological disharmony.

Although the Empath has a wonderful gift, and is often greatly

cherished by those around them, they are often challenged and
confronted by a variety of misguided perceptions towards their
innate gift.

Myths & Misunderstandings

You need to grow some thicker skin! Stop being so overly

sensitive. I wish I could tell you how many times I heard that in my
childhood! Growing up as an Empath, you may have experienced
similar insults from your parents, friends or peers, and perhaps
even worse.

Its not at all trendy or popular to be sensitive or feeling in our

society that values efficiency, cold calculation and industrial
resilience. Therefore, you may have experienced and still
experience, a lot of antagonism towards your behavior as an
Empath. I will explore 4 of these main misperceptions below.

Myth #1 Empaths are navel-gazing and self-absorbed.

Truth We often focus more on others than on ourselves.

Its true that Empaths are often unexpainably moody and quiet on
the outside. However, this isnt because theyre excessively
absorbed thinking too much about themselves and their feelings.
Rather, the Empath is often deeply affected by the exterior
emotions of others that he experiences as his own. The Empaths
ability to intuitively feel the feelings of others is what weighs him
down so much. In fact, its characteristic of the Empath to pay more
attention to others needs than his own.

Myth #2 Empaths are mentally ill.

Truth We are magnets of negative energy. This often creates

psychological disbalance within us.

Empaths are excellent listeners, confidants and counselors. For this

reason, its common for people to be drawn towards their sincere
and caring natures, almost like magnets. Therefore, Empaths often
experience a lot of emotional baggage dumping from other
people, and have difficult releasing themselves from the negative
energy that remains in their minds and bodies afterwards.

Unfortunately, this can lead to a lot of lingering depressive emotions

that the Empath is left with. Thus, the Empath can appear to be
mentally ill and depressed, and in some cases legitimately is.
However, in most cases the Empath is congested with remnants of
harmful emotional energy, like sinuses are congested with mucus
during a flu virus.

The root of the problem doesnt lie with the Empath, its a result of
their outer emotional climate.

Myth #3 Empaths are psychologically frail.

Truth We are biologically programmed to be more sensitive and in

tune with our surrounding environment.

As Empath Nicole Lawler wrote, Empaths are essentially walking

around in this world with all the accumulated karma, emotions, and
energy from others. Understandably, this results in a lot of inner
emotional tension for the Empath who is more prone to crying and
exhibiting other signs of weakness.

Additionally, the Empath finds it extremely difficult to partake in

many normal activities. For instance, watching a movie about Nazi
concentration camps is extremely emotionally upsetting for the
Empath, and getting a job in an office is overwhelming and tiring for
the Empath who is bombarded with other peoples emotions
constantly. Therefore, its not surprising that the Empath is often
perceived as wussy, frail or weak minded to the person who
fails to comprehend the constant pressure the Empath lives under.

The fact that most Empaths arent driven clinically insane by the
constant emotional flux they experience is testimony enough to
their mental strength.

Myth #4 Empaths are lazy.

Truth We often lack mental, emotional and physical energy due to

our intense empathetic ability to understand others.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) amongst other physical issues

like headaches, insomnia and Fibromyalgia, have all been
commonly attributed to Empaths.

If our minds are constantly overloaded with stress, tension and

pressure, it therefore translates that our bodies are as well. This
often results in sicknesses such as the ones mentioned above.
Thus Empaths often lack the energy and therefore desire to do
many things, preferring to relax (including taking naps) instead.

***

If youve experienced any of these misperceptions in your life,

please feel free to share your experiences below. Also, feel free to
take our free Empath Test. Being an Empath can certainly be
riddled with setbacks, however, its invaluable to remember how
much of an asset you are to the world. Our planet needs a balance
of both hard and industrious people, and soft and empathetic
people. You form an important part in this great Universal Balance.

Special thanks to Loner Wolf for allowing Expanded

Consciousness to republish their article.