You are tired, drained, and very emotional these days. You find yourself crying when returning from the grocery store for no valid reason and wanting nothing to do with the people around you. You know you are an empath, a person who is highly sensitive to emotional energy, and are aware of the mood fluctuations that go along with being empathic, but what can you do to start living a happier life? Here are five ways to improve your life as empath, starting today.
1. Get to know yourself
Get to know who you are as an empath. There are different types of empaths; get to know which type you are and what sensitivities you have as a result of your abilities. Ask yourself questions with the intention of becoming self-aware. Ask yourself questions like: How do I feel when I am hungry? Why do I get depressed when I feel I am not being understood? How do I know when an ailment is not mine? These questions will help you figure out who you are, what your needs are, and how to meet those needs.
2. Put yourself first
As an empath, you are naturally compelled to help others, but learning to say "no" and putting yourself first is the best way to help yourself. The belief of putting others first is the old way of thinking, and no longer fits the modern empath, which is why you feel drained or taken advantage of when you put someone else's needs before yours. Once you start putting yourself, first you will naturally start to set boundaries. Boundaries that keep you from putting someone else before you and keep people who take advantage of empaths, like "emotional vampires," away.
3. Stop worrying about other people
Thinking and feeling you are responsible for someone else will keep you living for others instead of yourself. You can start to live for yourself today by releasing any sense of responsibility you have for others. This sense of responsibility and obligation creates enormous amounts of emotional turbulence and undeserved guilt when you are not able to help someone. The best way you can help others when you feel a sense of responsibility for them, is to let them be and work at their own pace -- remember this and make it your new mantra.
4. Express yourself
Having such a strong empathic connection to everything and everyone, you constantly find yourself overflowing with creativity. Get in touch with your creativity and express yourself. Self-expression is a wonderful tool for empaths because it helps you release anything that you are holding on to, especially emotionally. It does not matter what you do or how you do it, what matters is that you bring out what is being held within.
5. Take care of yourself
Take time each day to check in with yourself. Disconnect from the world around you for at least five minutes to see how you are feeling and doing. It is up to you to take care of yourself and give yourself what you need to recharge on a regular basis. Check in to see if you need to eat better or drink more water, if you are getting adequate rest and sleep, if you need to meditate or go for a walk...if you need to talk to someone and process things going on in your life. By checking in and taking care of your needs, you will become a happier person instantly.