Merriam-Webster defines the word empath as “one who experiences the emotions of others.” My empathic journey began in the womb. My mother loved me but was scared if she could handle another baby.
Being an empath, I absorbed all her fearful energy concerning my birth. I started my life in the womb believing that my mother’s fears were a clear indication of my lack of worthiness and that I was unwanted.
As I grew older and started talking, I began to express my world as I was experiencing it. Since I was born an empath, I was able to describe not only what I was feeling internally but what others were emotionally experiencing also. I was automatically wired to experience emotions stronger and deeper than the average person.
Because of this, I was almost continuously overwhelmed with a plethora of emotions, many of which were not mine. This led to several labels being adhered to me. The two sentences I heard more and more often were “You’re too sensitive” and “You worry too much.”
My foundation was being built layer upon layer, convincing me I was unworthy, unlovable, and something was definitely wrong with me. The way I showed up and interacted with others and the world in general on a daily basis was foreign, different. And I always felt different and that I never belonged… anywhere.
Due to all this, I had no healthy concept of self-worth, self-acceptance, or self-love. I lived a large part of my adult life wishing, praying, and longing for someone who would love me enough. The true issue, however, was not outside of myself. It was within.
Love must start from within. We have to feel it first before anyone else can present it to us. However, without a healthy, strong foundation, I had no idea that love works this way. I searched outside of myself continuously, many times frantically, for someone to truly love me as I was.
Over time, working with tools of self-love and self-acceptance and an unstoppable drive to heal, I was able to completely tear down the existing foundation and build a new one from a place of self-acceptance, self-worth, and self-love.
I took inventory of my foundation and my belief system about others and self, separately and collectively. I made a conscious decision that to reject any judgment of self—from myself or others.
I made a commitment to not take anything personally anymore. Everything expressed by an individual goes through their own filters. It is their perspective, the projection of their reality, but your reality is actually quite different. The day I embraced this was the day I truly stepped onto my journey of healing and embracing self-love.
It was then that I could clearly recognize that my “being too sensitive” or “worrying too much” was actually a precious gift waiting to be recognized for the truth of what it is. From a very healthy place of self-acceptance, self-worth, and self-love, I had recognized that my empathic side was actually a gift I’ve been blessed with.
I’ve learned to grace myself with love, acceptance, and compassion first in order to feel it so deeply and offer it to others. The same holds true for all.
I have learned to fully and completely, without hesitation, embrace the authenticity of who I am: I am an Empath who feels and loves at the deepest levels. I have embraced the fact that it is truly a gift to experience the spectrum of emotions intensely and deeply.
It is important to manage this gift by keeping healthy boundaries. Recognize what emotions / feelings truly belong to you and what truly belongs to others.
When you feel your empathic / sensitive side activating remember this: We are the warriors of love. Our emotions are the tools of love. This is all for the highest purpose of guiding others into the world of love, self-love, compassion, and kindness.
Keep shining and fully embrace your true, authentic light of love.
