Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It’s what allows us to connect, to care, and to comfort.
Being empathetic means listening without judgment, offering support without needing to fix, and simply being present with someone in their pain or joy.
But being an empath goes deeper.
An empath doesn’t just understand emotions; they feel them deeply and are sometimes overwhelmed by them.
Empaths absorb the energy around them, sensing sadness, anger, happiness, or pain even when it’s unspoken.
It’s not a choice; it is part of you that you cannot hide from.
Five years on from lockdown, many people are still fragile. Mood swings, anger, tears, and overwhelm are common.
Our emotions are heightened because we’ve been through a collective trauma. We’re still healing, and empaths feel this more than most.
I’ve always felt different from other people as early as I can remember.
I thought I was soft. I thought I was afraid. I thought I was weak. I certainly wasn’t what many would call – masculine.
I couldn’t bear cruelty, I couldn’t face helping people who were injured, and then I became a police officer.
I struggled with the pain I saw, and I buried my emotions. I pushed my family away and found comfort in alcohol.
It worked, or so I thought. Then I experienced depression!
Over the past two years, I’ve been on a journey of self-discovery. I now know that I’m an empath and understand why I became a crisis negotiator.
I know why I can walk into a room and instantly see those who are struggling.
If you’re wondering whether you’re an empath, apart from what’s written above, here are some signs:
- You feel others’ emotions as if they’re your own.
- You’re deeply affected by cruelty or injustice.
- You want to help others more than you want to help yourself.
- You feel drained in crowded or emotionally intense environments.
- You cry easily – not out of weakness, but because you care deeply.
- You sense when someone is hurting, even if they say they’re fine.
If this sounds like you, don’t hide from it. Don’t run from it. And certainly, don’t bury it.
Embrace it. For you are a special person, and the world needs people just like you now more than ever.
Let’s Talk!
Are You An Empath?