I borrowed this post from a fellow blogger.
On the Star Trek series “Star Trek Next Generation” one of the characters, Counselor Deanna Troi was an empath. Not only could she read peoples minds, she could also feel their physical and emotional pain as well, not to mention feel their joy.
I think many of us today are like that too, I know I am. I suffer from being to empathic at times. Someone comes to me with a sob story and I immediately empathize with them to the point I begin to feel as bad as they do.
And conversely some person starts telling you how much money they have, or how smart their kids are, or how nice their new car is, or about their new house, new shoes or whatever. You can’t get a word in, they just take over the conversation and not really listening to you. It’s not that you don’t care, but the truth is you have other more pressing matters on your mind. You just are listening just to be nice, but they draw the energy out of you. Didn’t realize until the other day that there is a name for folks like that, they are called “Energy Vampires.” I am sure we all know one or two people that fit into this category.
Of course there are people you can’t wait to be around, their spirit and energy revitalizes you, and if you are down they have a way of lifting you up. But unfortunately those people are more susceptible to having their energy drained by the Energy Vampires.
“The sob sister, for one, always considers herself the victim. The world is always against her, and she'll recount every horrible thing that has happened to her, wallowing in every perceived slight. The charmer is a constant talker or joke-teller who has to be the center of attention. The blamer, on the other hand, doles out endless servings of guilt. And then there's the drama queen, the co-worker who claims she almost died from a high fever or the neighbor who lives in extremes of emotion—life is unbelievably good or horrifically bad.” Dr. Judith Orloff.
Being a empath goes against everything we believe in to not be sympathetic to these people, but they are literally draining us of our life force. But I am learning to back away. I am learning to protect myself from people like this. You can be compassionate without feeling saddled with their problems.
I am learning to be aware of which individuals deplete my energy and I am trying to limit my contact with them. I am learning to say, “This is what I can do for you, and this is what I can't.” They are drowning in their sorrow and if I am not careful they will pull me down with them.
“A suggestion is you step back and think about what type of people aggravate you, because I believe that one law of energy is that we attract what we haven't yet worked out in ourselves. If I'm a very angry person, I'll find myself surrounded by angry people. By paying attention to the people who seem so draining, you might discover something you need to address. It has been my experience that once you've worked through a particular issue, you're no longer worn out by that kind of energy vampire. And the vampires, robbed of a source, move on to more easily drainable audiences.” Dr. Judith Orloff.
How do you know if you're an empath? What are the signs?
Quiz: Are You an Intuitive Empath? Ask yourself:
• Have I ever sat next to someone at a dinner who seems pleasant, but suddenly I’m nauseous, have a head-ache, or feel drained?
• Am I uncomfortable in crowds, even go out of my way to avoid them?
• Do I get easily over-stimulated by people or prefer being alone?
• When someone is in pain, do I start feeling it too?
• Do I overeat around people I’m uncomfortable with?
If you’ve answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, it’s likely you have experienced intuitive empathy. Responding “yes” to every question indicates empathy is draining your energy.
Tips for Keeping Your Positive Energy High
1. In crowds or stressful situations take a few deep breaths to exhale negative energy from your body.
2. Visualize a protective shield of light around you, allowing positive energy in, but keeping the negative energy out.
3. Meditate daily to center yourself, visualize roots going through you and planting firmly in the ground.
4. Take daily baths or showers to wash off negative vibes.
5. Burn sage in a room to purify left over negative vibes.
6. Eliminate energy vampires (people who sap you)
