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The Purpose of This Article
The purpose of this article is to share my personal experience and the knowledge I have gained along my journey, to help people understand if they are empathic, recognize it, understand it, and live with the awareness that empathy is a gift, not a burden. You won’t find scientific research in these lines, only my lived experience and the insights I have gained over time.
Many people who possess this wonderful ability often feel overwhelmed or in difficulty, but with the right awareness and practices, empathy can transform into a powerful and positive force. This is precisely what I want to explore: how to learn to manage and honor empathy so that it becomes a tool for personal growth.
My Experiences
For me, it all started with the practice of yoga and reiki. Before that, as a child, I had experienced episodes that went beyond the “normal,” but I couldn’t understand them. Only later, when I came closer to the world of intuitive sensitivities, did I realize that what I was experiencing was connected to these subtle perceptions that we all have but don’t always develop.
To clarify what I mean by empathy, it’s important to take a step back and explain what intuitive sensitivities (or “Clairs” in English) are. These are innate abilities that we all possess but often don’t fully develop or recognize:
Clairvoyance: The ability to perceive information visually through intuition.
Clairaudience: The ability to hear sounds or words that do not come from the physical world.
Clairsentience: The ability to perceive subtle energy, both in people and environments.
Clairgustance: The ability to receive information through taste, without putting anything in the mouth.
Clairolfaction: The ability to perceive smells that are not physically present.
Claircognizance: The ability to know something is true, even without having seen, heard, or perceived it. You simply know.
Clairtangency: The ability to feel energy through touch, perceiving vibrations or subtle sensations.
We are all born with these sensitivities, but unfortunately, as we grow, we tend to ignore them, prioritizing the five physical senses and neglecting the “sixth sense.” If one of these sensitivities is developed but not recognized, it can be easy to feel confused or even overwhelmed by our perception of the world.
Empathy and Intuitive Sensitivity: What’s the Difference?
You might be asking: What’s the difference between empathic abilities and intuitive sensitivities? The main distinction is that intuitive sensitivities are the means by which we experience empathy. Think of sensitivities as a funnel that channels subtle information into our awareness.
For example, an empath with a strong connection to animals might perceive an animal’s emotions through clairsentience, but might also communicate with it through touch (clairtangency). A psychic empath, on the other hand, might receive intuitions or visions (clairvoyance) and perceive physical sensations that guide them in understanding others.
It’s important to note that while nearly all empaths possess at least one intuitive sensitivity, not everyone who has developed intuitive abilities is empathic. You can have sharp intuition without necessarily being an empath.
My Experience with Intuitive Sensitivities
In 2019, when I began practicing reiki and yoga, it felt like a new world was opening up before me. At first, I thought I was losing my mind because I was perceiving subtle energies and information I couldn’t explain logically. My mind tried to rationalize these perceptions, labeling them as “paranormal,” but eventually, I understood that there was nothing abnormal about it: these were intuitive abilities that, if unrecognized, can seem strange or overwhelming.
Today, with more awareness, I recognize that my main sensitivities are Claircognizance and Clairsentience, and this has allowed me to live in a more balanced way and help others through the subtle perceptions I receive. This awareness has given me the key to live in harmony, transforming what was once confusing into a precious gift.
Recognizing and Embracing Your Empathy
Understanding the type of empathy you have can truly transform this sensitivity from a burden to a gift. Recognizing your specific empathic qualities allows you to navigate the world with greater awareness, set healthy boundaries, and create authentic connections with others.
There are different types of empaths, each with unique characteristics. Here’s how you can recognize which type of empathy you might have:
Physical empaths: They perceive the physical symptoms of others. They might feel pain or discomfort as if it were their own.
Emotional empaths: They feel others’ emotions as their own, often experiencing the same sensations of joy, sadness, or anxiety.
Intuitive empaths: They have an extraordinary perception of reality, receiving insights and signals that connect them to invisible worlds, like telepathy, communication with animals, or energy reading of environments.
Intuitive empaths, in particular, tend to be highly influenced by external energy, which is why it’s important to learn how to manage their sensitivity. Learning to protect oneself is crucial to avoid emotional burnout.
How to Know If You Are Empathic
If you’re wondering whether you are empathic, here are some questions that may help clarify:
Do you often feel others’ emotions as if they were your own?
Do you often feel overwhelmed or exhausted after being around certain people?
Are you particularly sensitive to the environments or energies around you?
Do emotionally heavy news or movies feel difficult to watch?
Do crowds drain you, while solitude recharges you?
Do you have insights into people or situations without them telling you anything?
If you answered “yes” to many of these questions, you’re likely an empath. But recognizing your empathy is just the first step. Learning to manage it is essential.
Self-Care for Empaths
Intuitive empaths are often emotional sponges, absorbing the energy of others without filters. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it’s crucial to learn how to protect yourself and stay grounded.
Here are some helpful practices:
Take breaks: Take time throughout the day to recharge and refocus.
Be mindful of the people you spend time with: Surround yourself with those who enrich you, not drain you.
Protect yourself: Use visualization techniques, such as imagining a light surrounding you, to create a protective barrier from external energies.
Self-care is essential for empaths: Practices like meditation, yoga, nature walks, and anything that promotes inner balance are key to preventing emotional burnout.
Use crystals: Crystals can be powerful allies for grounding and energetic protection.
Conclusion
Being empathic is a gift that can enrich our lives and the lives of others. However, if not managed properly, it can become a burden. Learning to set boundaries, practice self-care, and develop emotional awareness are essential steps for living a healthy and balanced empathic life.
Final Reflection
If you are an empath, I invite you to reflect on how this quality impacts your life. Have you managed to find a good balance between being open to others and protecting yourself? Empathy can lead to deeper connections, but it requires attention and self-care. Like any gift, when used wisely, empathy can become a force that helps you live better and makes the world a more harmonious place.
