Recently I unplugged from social media and the news.
Some people were worried, but there really was no need because it was a good decision. What I didn’t mention was the reason for this sudden change in my daily habits.
I’m an empath.
If you’re not familiar with that word, basically it means you absorb the emotions of everyone around you. The world is hyper-noisy and you are like an involuntary sponge, soaking up all the grief, fear, and confrontations the Universe has to offer.
I suppose I’ve always known I was a highly sensitive person, but being an empath is much more than not being able to accept criticism. In my case, every color or sound or negative experience is heightened. When the energies become intolerable, I’ll sometimes retreat for the sake of my wellness.
Thankfully, being an empath doesn’t keep me from my writing. And it shouldn’t.
So it’s a good thing?
It can be. Empaths live with heightened senses each and every day. We know the emotions of people’s fears and anxieties. We’ve seen how people react when they lose control. We know how it feels to be hurt, to feel overwhelmed.
For empathic writers like me, we already have the ability to put ourselves in another person’s shoes, so we immediately understand how our fictional character “ticks.” That’s why we excel at creating believable heroes and baddies.
We know people, inside and out. And people who know people are more effective as writers. We connect better with our readers.
Energy shielding
Since empaths require protection from absorbing negativity, I have searched for ways to protect my energy.
One method is to visualize a lead shield or mirrored ball around you.
You may also wish to wear protective crystals like amethyst or smoky quartz. I used those same crystals to create an Aura Cleansing Spray.
Here’s my recipe:
Place an amethyst and smoky quartz crystal in a mason jar.
Add distilled water and place outside in the sun or on a sunny windowsill for at least 24 hours.
Remove crystals and pour water into another glass jar for storing.
Add 1/4 cup of vodka or witch hazel to preserve energies and prevent water from becoming stagnant.
Add 15 drops of lavender essential oil and 15 drops of rosemary essential oil into water.
Add 1 tablespoon of seasalt or 2 droppers of Yarrow Environmental Solution.
Store jar in a cool location, away from sun and heat.
Pour part of the solution into a glass spray bottle to use whenever you need protection and after you’ve gone out into the world.
In every human’s life, we must face numerous challenges — that’s a given. Surprisingly, sometime those challenges are actually “blessings.” But what if you’re not a highly sensitive person?
Exercise
You don’t need to be an empath to understand and write about real characters with real emotions. You can cultivate empathy through your own memories and imagination.
While you’re writing your stories, try this:
Think about a time when someone showed empathy towards you. How did you feel about that? How would your character feel if that same experience happened to him/her?
Poet/author Maya Angelou wrote: ”Each one of us has lived through some devastation, some loneliness, some weather superstorm or spiritual superstorm, when we look at each other we must say, I understand. I understand how you feel because I have been there myself.”
Yes, I am an empath, but I’m also a writer and a visionary. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could present the gift of understanding to every person we meet?!