What's an Empath?

Although I have been an Indigo and Empath all my life, it wasn't until early 2013 that I awakened to the fact that there were names (or labels) for what I had been experiencing. Once I realized this and did some research, many pieces of my life suddenly fit together like a puzzle. Many long standing questions were answered. Everything about myself suddenly made sense. I have always felt different. I just could never put my finger on it or name it or understand it.

What I have learned so far about Empaths is that almost all (if not all) Indigos are also Empaths, but not all Empaths are Indigos. (Learn more about Indigos here.)There are some people who are Empaths or what is called Highly Sensitive People (and who are not Indigos). "An Empath is someone who has been hard-wired from birth to perceive, and literally experience the thoughts, emotions, physical sensitivities and spiritual urges of other people," explains Dr. Michael R. Smith, Ph.D., N.C.C. An Empath is always "on" to process other people's feelings and energy. It's much more than being a highly sensitive person, and it's not limited to just emotions. Empaths are energetically sensitive and are affected by all types of energy.

From what I understand, the difference between Empaths and Highly Sensitive People (HSP) is that Empaths are more tuned into the spiritual realm than a sensitive person, though both are open and perceive and feel the energy around them. This is according to Dr. Michael R. Smith, who is a wonderful coach and teacher for Empaths and HSPs that I discovered on an on-line webinar in 2013. He is an Empath himself. He said there is a study that reported that around 20% of the total population is what's considered to be sensitive people, and he estimates from his clients over the years that about 5% of those are Empaths.

Here is a list of some characteristics of Empaths according to Dr. Smith:

• You look at someone and just know their emotional state.
• You can feel the energy coming at you (or being drained) from another person, especially from the eyes.
• You have a blocked feeling in your chest or sternum, as if someone is tugging on it.
• You tend to run away from people when stressed, rather than engage.
• You've been called "oversensitive" or "hypersensitive".
• You always know where danger may lurk. (Curiously, you may have avoided accidents because of this hyper-vigilance).
• You are drawn to the tranquility of animals.
• You are drawn to mountains, nature, the ocean -- anywhere outdoors for it's grounding effect.
• You cannot bear violence in any form.
• You can easily produce tears, sometimes at will.
• You may be able to feel the physical aches & pains of others in your body (this often leads to chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, or other energy illnesses).
• You feel better after a good, intense cry.
• You are overwhelmed by large crowds or mobs.
• You can sometimes feel affected by the energy of the full moon.
• You have had spiritual or paranormal experiences that include seeing or hearing ghosts, sensing presences, and/or having intense and sometimes lucid dreams.

Empaths directly perceive energy from other people's bodies and feel it in their own bodies. We feel everything, even if we are not aware of it. When I am focused on someone, whether in person or on the phone or someone on the TV or internet (it doesn't matter), I can literally feel what they are feeling. Mostly I feel the emotions but occasionally I may feel physical things as well.  For example, a client called me once about something that I forgot to do and though she was very nice and cordial on the phone, I could actually feel her agitation and annoyance. If someone is not honest or sincere, like when someone says one thing while they are feeling something very different, I know because I feel what they feel, regardless of what they say. I don't necessarily have to be focused on someone to feel their energy either.

My beloved Australian cattle dog Einstein, who passed away at home at the age of 17 a few months ago, taught me a lot in the thirteen years I had him but I learned something amazing just before he passed away. I had been giving him some pain medication in pill form but at the very end he couldn't swallow so I gave him an inject-able pain medication and it made him nauseous. I felt terrible for making him nauseous of course, but I also felt his nausea. I physically felt it in my body. I realized at that moment that I could feel what he was physically feeling. My empathic abilities extend to the animals. Also, the moment he died, I was in my office just a few feet away and I felt his energy come in the room and guide me out to where his body was and I saw that he just passed away. I had just checked on him five or ten minutes prior. I could feel Einstein as energy after he left his body. He got my attention and led me to see he had just left his body. He was free! 

Empaths are connected to their intuition, good listeners, very emotional and we feel very deeply. We experience emotions for unknown reasons and we cry easily. We are sensitive to our surroundings. We typically avoid places like malls, shopping centers and anywhere there might be chaos or negative energy. Lower vibrations drain us. I am really sensitive to violence and any other negativity on the TV, radio or otherwise. Considering we are bombarded with violence and negativity, the world can be a pretty painful place for an Empath. This is why it's common for Empaths to have addictions. We have to learn to discharge lower vibratory energy "crud" that we pick up over our lifetime that collects in our aura (energy body). If not, we can become sick. 

Trauma is associated with being an Empath, and according to Dr. Smith, occurs in about 50% of us and may have actually enhanced our energetic perception. We cannot change the fact that we are Empaths. "It is akin to your eye color", says Dr. Smith. It's not something that is teachable and you can't learn it. You either are or you aren't. It's a gift but can feel like a curse. We have to learn how to manage and adapt to our energetic sensitivity and that's what I have been working on and continue to work on. Dr. Smith has great tips on how to develop inner power and energetic balance so we can become empowered Empaths. We are fortunate to have someone like Dr. Smith to help us! If you or someone you know is an Empath or a HSP and would like more information, you can visit his website here.

Near Death Experiences

For the last twenty-eight years I have read every book about near-death experiences and the study of them that I could get my hands on and still do. I have seen the different documentaries that have come out over the years as well. I have personally met people who have had such experiences and one later wrote a book about it. One of the newest books out is by Dr. Eben Alexander, called Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife and it's great. What's interesting about this case is the fact that he's a brain surgeon. This is the first case I've ever heard about that involved this type of doctor. More and more people are coming back from the other side to tell their stories.

But out of all the cases I've read or heard about -- and they are all amazing, uplifting and inspiring, Anita Moorjani's will blow your socks off!  I read her book Dying to be Me and oh, is it good! It is very well written. You will not be able to put it down. I came across this 18 minute video on You Tube where she is describing her experience and telling you what she learned. I loved the analogy she used of what it's like after returning from her experience.  Awesome! Check it out! If you haven't already, you will want to read her book.  :)

Do What You Love to Do

Another one of the messages that has been etched in my mind for some time that I'd like to share is: Do what you love and the money will come. Again, I don't remember where I first heard this statement. Maybe you've heard it. It's true. 

I was not one of those kids that always knew what they wanted to be when they grew up. In fact, I was well into my adulthood before I ever really figured out what I really loved or had a passion about. There were several things that I was interested in, but I'm talking about things that really excite you, get your energy flowing...things you love doing that bring you joy. 

I have always loved animals and I've had pets since I was a young child. I started with hamsters and got my first dog at the age of ten and my first cat when I was twelve. I was pretty responsible for my age and took good care of them and trained them myself.  I never really imagined myself doing anything with animals when I grew up, other than living with them of course. The only vocation relating to animals (pets) I was aware of back then was a veterinarian and I just don't have what it takes to do that. I'm too squeamish. I knew that wasn't for me.

So I've had my share of jobs since I began working at the age of sixteen, trying to figure out what I liked doing best. Most of them I enjoyed for awhile but would get tired of them. They were all just ways to "make a living" so I could pay the bills. Some I liked more than others but they all gave me good experience in one way or another. 

I had never heard of a pet sitter until I was in my thirties and needed one myself. I asked my vet's office if they knew of anyone and one of the male technicians who worked there did pet sitting on the side in addition to going to college to become a veterinarian himself. I hired him for the weekend. It was a huge relief not to worry about our pets. That is what first planted the seed in my head of a new and different possibility that I hadn't thought of before. (The term pet sitter was not a household word at the time.) I now had the thought "wouldn't it be cool to take care of pets 'for a living' -- in that way -- as a pet sitter?" I mean, that would be right up my alley. Taking care of and being around pets comes naturally to me. It's something I have always loved doing since I was a young child. The idea of being a professional pet sitter had never occurred to me before then.

It was just an idea at first. You know, one of those things you day dream about. At the time, I had a job that I had been at for six years. I was very comfortable. I had a good salary and benefits-- security. I wasn't going to leave my comfort zone. Even if it was getting boring. So guess what happened? Yep! I got laid-off. For those of us that drag our feet sometimes, the universe will help give us a little kick in the butt!

Now I had the perfect opportunity to make that dream come true. I did research on pet sitting as a professional business. There were actually a couple of good books out on the subject that were very helpful. I got all my ducks in a row and never looked back. It was something that was easy for me to sell because it was a great service that I believed in and not only was it a great service to others but I have fun doing it. 

That is the way it's meant to be! We are meant to have fun! It's not about hard work, struggle or doing things you may not  want to do like we may have been led to believe. It's about doing what you love to do and having fun doing it. Joy is our natural state of being. That's why we are always seeking things that make us happy. And I'm here to tell you that you can do what you love and the money will come! I have a successful professional pet sitting business that is celebrating its twelfth anniversary this year.

Stay focused and have faith -- the universe is on your side!

"Your choices shape your life. You are the artist. Your life is the canvas. Intention is your paintbrush."   ~ Mary Mannin Morrissey

I came across this trailer of the movie Finding Joe. It's just what I am talking about!

Finding Joe - Trailer V.7 from pat solomon on Vimeo.