Psychologists say that one in five identifies as someone that senses the emotional state of others. We’ve put together answers to the common questions about this subject.  Find out if you are one and what you can do to make life easier with this gift.

We’ll start by defining the terms and asking the most asked questions to see how they are similar and how they differ.  Will we answer some most asked questions about an Empath test?

What Is A Empath?

Empath Definition

Empaths are able to feel the emotions of others.  They are sensitive to the feelings and energy generated by people, places and even objects. People from a variety of backgrounds have this gift. Sages tell us it is the basis of physical attraction. About one in five people have this ability, so you aren’t alone.   If this is you, you will want to handle this awareness. It is natural to be curious about how it works.

Sympathy

Sympathy is an integral part of our social instinct which prompts a strong emotion such as sorrow, worry, and pity for the pain, misfortune and hardship of others.  It is only natural to feel sympathy and empathize with others in emotional distress.  Can you relate?

Empathy

The ability to understand and relate to the feelings of others is empathy.  Cultivating empathy for others is important, because it is the platform for genuine relationships.  We need people who care about people and the plane.  We need people who have the skills and passion to find solutions to global issues.

You may not identify with the Empath Definition, but you can still relate.    If you have a healthy social instinct, it is natural to have feelings of empathy and sadness for the pain and suffering of others. Healthy people will have sympathy and empathy for people and the planet.  But empathy differs from the experience of the Empath.  An Empath feels the emotions and physical pain of others.

The opposite of the Empath is the narcissist.  Narcissism is a personality disorder which makes people numb and unsympathetic to the pain of other living things.  In fact, they enjoy causing pain.

The Empaths Frequently Asked Questions

Every Empath wants to know how to deal with it.  You want to find out how to shut it off when it isn’t needed, because this level of emotional awareness can be hard to handle.  It is hard to explain emotional sensitivity parameters to those who don’t have them, and it is equally mysterious to those who have it.  It comes in varying degrees. Above all, this gift or ability makes life interesting.

Are Empath abilities Paranormal or Supernatural?

Do these abilities have a supernatural or paranormal source?   Answering this question depends how you define paranormal.  Most see this as a skill of perception. They do not regard this ability as having a supernatural source.  We simply do not understand how they work.

Organized Religion labels it as evil.  They brand it as a skill of witchcraft to make it undesirable.  They can’t control or sell it.  They demonize and call it paranormal or supernatural to make it unacceptable.  They want to prevent you exploring this gift.  It’s competition.

The fact is, our empathetic ability grows as we expand our awareness.  The growth of our consciousness is a beautiful thing.  As we become more aware, we use common sense and logic.  When you enhance these natural mental abilities of perception, then the inconsistencies, inequalities and injustice of the culture will be more evident. Then you’ll start questioning the cultural narrative.  The dominant culture does not want us to be inquisitive; they want us to be compliant.

The most powerful social force in our society comes from Western organized religion.  So even if you aren’t a follower, you feel the effects of its values and prejudices.  The principal concern of Western organized religion is profit.  It sells the afterlife, health, and prosperity.  But the afterlife is by far their most lucrative scam. There are no customer complaints about this product.   It is an unstoppable cash-flow strategy.

For this reason, the culture doesn’t want people to be awake and aware.  Awareness leads to more empathy.  And this leads to more kindness and compassion.  These traits break down the barriers it works so hard to create, so the culture controlled by a religion makes the Empath and their abilities rare and extraordinary.  It projects the fallacy the Empath is evil, something supernatural or paranormal, effectively making it off-limits and taboo.

Is There an Accurate Empath Test?

Sorry, these is no such thing as a valid test for an Empath.  Empathic abilities are functions of awareness.  Our awareness fluctuates during the day, it expands and contracts.   If you have the emotional sensitivity that fits the Empath definition, you know emotional energy is erratic, changing based on our mood and the energy of people and places. A test would only measure your awareness at a specific date and time, so you can not make an accurate Empath test.

Several factors affect our awareness.  Our physical and mental health, the amount of sleep all affect our mindset.  We can use drugs to alter, distort, and mute it all together.  Our awareness is not constant it changes.  We can use techniques to expand it, like meditation and lucid dreaming.  The study of logic and languages all expand awareness.

If you are still interested in one of these tests, you’ll find several online, we find these are just lists of generalized traits.  These traits apply to everyone.  Don’t waste your time.

They have not developed an accurate test that would identify this partition of awareness as far as we know.  By all means, don’t pay to take a quiz.  Some ask you to choose pictures.  These tests may be fun, but they are not accurate.

Can You Learn or Increase Empath Abilities?

The ability of the Empath is a function of awareness and you can increase the bandwidth of awareness.  Anything which expands awareness gives you greater access observational and senses. So the answer is yes.

Our DNA holds these gifts.  Accessing these gifts is a central focus of many ancient cultures, and we can benefit from generations of their research. These methods for expanding awareness are what we call spiritual exploration.  We use them in our blended learning process.

Also, these tools stand up to the test of science. They are repeatable processes that allow us to reach higher states.  We can measure the unique physiological properties of these states, which differ from our default settings of waking, sleeping, and dreaming. Most of these tools come from Eastern cultures because they focus on developing human potential.

Are Empaths likely to be a specific personality type?

Are some personality types more likely to be considered an Empath?  No, this does not appear to be the case.   People of all personality types may exhibit these qualities.   These findings come from over 20 years of research gathering data with the Enneagram.

We use the Enneagram of Personality in our workshops and research. It’s the best tool for learning about our Ego.  Even among the feeling Tri-types, you’d expect there to be a more significant number of Empaths.  However, this is not the case here either.  They appear in the same numbers across all aspects of personality and instinct.  So, this sensitivity gift is not an element of our Ego.  Where could this sensitivity live?  Ever hear of our sixth sense?

Is the sixth sense the same as being an Empath?

The sixth sense is the ability to perceive beyond the five senses of hearing, taste, sight, smell, and touch.  It is also known as extrasensory perception (ESP). We’ve already discussed energy sensitivity as a special level of perception.  The feeling someone or something is watching us could be a latent part of our self-preservation instinct.

The sixth sense is not uncommon; many creatures share this ability. Even those with significant visual impairments can be aware when people are watching them. They sense someone or something is watching them even though it is physically impossible for them to see. It’s something science can’t yet explain.  So, perhaps ESP is simply a different channel of energy sensitivity?

Some scientists think this sixth sense is part of the hard-wiring of our autonomic nervous system.  The sixth sense is connected with our instinctual fight, flight, or freeze, which helps us respond to all types of danger.  Animals also share the abilities of an Empath.  We train dogs to be emotional support partners because they can sense when the owner needs help before there are any outward signs.  Therefore, it is clear many animals share this gift. That’s how they can expect predators.

Are Empaths Also Introverts?

People assume that Empaths must also be introverts.  However, this isn’t the case.  People with empathetic sensitivity are just as likely to be extroverts.  Some people use an Empath label as an excuse to isolate or act unsociably.  These are signs of mental health issues like depression.  Therefore, you should not confuse anti-social personality disorders with emotional sensitivity.

Are Empaths Loners?

Do Empaths need more time alone than others who are not?  No, not necessarily. The fact is, everyone needs time alone.  Even the most aggressive personality types who are not Empaths need time alone.  Our modern world is hectic and chaotic. It’s easy to let this become overwhelming.  Our very nature requires time alone to recharge, contemplate, and normalize. It’s important to meditate. We’ll talk more about this in a moment.

If you fit the Empath definition, it doesn’t mean you are doomed to be alone.  You can learn to handle it.

How does being an Empath impact my identity?

If you identify with this name or term, ask yourself these questions. Why does this term resonate so profoundly with me?  Does this label make me feel special?  Is it a significant part of my identity?  Do I use it as an excuse to isolate or avoid addressing other problems?  Or is it merely another part of my spiritual toolbox?

The above questions deal with how we see and relate to our sense of self-worth.  We live in a culture bombarding us with messages.  They tell us we are inadequate unless we buy their product or idea, and we achieve a false sense of self through belonging to a group or buying a product.

Our genuine sense of self-worth is not something we can purchase.  Nor should we link it to anything which will change or diminish over time.  However, we can cultivate it through self-compassion.  It will help us achieve optimal health and wellness, starting with self-compassion. Don’t confuse self-compassion with counterfeit self-esteem. These terms sound similar but are different. Learn why.

Do Empaths have a better connection with intuition?

Being an Empath does not give a higher sense of intuition. However, it is possible to receive energy from someone or something but not understand the source.  We must learn to filter and interpret the energy, and this takes a fundamental understanding of our worldview, personality, and instincts.  Intuition is the ability to understand without conscious reasoning.  So, intuition has nothing to do with feeling external stimuli.

Are All Empaths Targets for Energy Vampires?

Some people believe Empaths are more susceptible to energy vampires.  Everyone who comes into their sights is a target. Energy, emotional, and financial vampires seek anyone willing to give them what they desire.  Empaths and emotionally vulnerable people can be easier to persuade if they don’t know how to guard their emotional center.  We’ll discuss the process to make yourself less of a target in a moment.

The bottom line, vulnerability, and sensitivity are not the problems.  The problem is that some people will attempt to prey on those who are cheerful and generous.  You can learn to be kind and still protect yourself.

Do Empaths have greater emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is a new catch-phrase in business culture, but it’s really just the rebranding of psychological manipulation.  This is a set of skills for masking emotional “affect” while reading others’ nonverbal communications.  It teaches people to be less than forthcoming and authentic, and it enables people to take advantage of communications and relationships for their own goals. It’s not something we recommend you learn.  Instead, learn to be authentic and honest.

Are Empaths sensitive to places and locations?

Locations like people can give off negative energy.  For instance, many people find walking in a garden or forest to help them feel calm and peaceful.  Some people get the same relaxed feeling when walking in a cemetery or other sacred sites because these are places which receive an outpouring of love and compassion.  Most people have special places which help them feel calm and centered. Do you have a sacred space?

Some places give off negative energy.  Some sites are unwelcome and menacing.  Again, your sixth sense will tell you something is wrong. We’ll explain the coping strategies for dealing with negative people and places later.

Dealing with Life as an Empath

Vulnerability is a healthy part of life, but constantly feeling vulnerable is not. If you live a courageous life, you risk yourself.  You choose to be vulnerable.  Those with a high level of emotional sensitivity have difficulty learning to control unwanted vulnerability.   Learning the proper coping skills will allow you to function in this hyper, emotionally charged culture.

Empaths must learn to shield your emotions, to protect unwanted sensory input which gives you more freedom and autonomy.  Many with emotional sensitivity struggle.  They haven’t learned the proper coping skills.  As a result, they go through life feeling like a target for energy vampires. They even have problems going to sleep when their angry neighbor comes home.

Let’s face it.  If you are a sensitive and caring person, you will attract needy people. You need to learn the proper skills to spot and cope with emotional vampires. If you use the correct technique to create healthy boundaries, you’ll have more freedom and less stress. Also, some people are sensitive to the negative energy of certain places.  The same coping skills will help with these as well.

First, Learn to Ground Yourself

Above all, it’s essential to learn how to become grounded and centered.  Grounding helps you be aware of your physical, emotional, and spiritual boundaries.  Also, grounding and centering will keep your analytical mind online.  In this way, you make better decisions using reason, logic, and common sense.  As a result, you’ll be able to avoid people or places that are energy, emotional and material vampires.

One of the best and simplest ways to become grounded is mindfulness meditation; it has two seated and moving forms.  By all means, everyone needs to learn and use these techniques. So, use your smartphone.  Set a reminder at least four times a day.  Take the time to use mindfulness meditation to become grounded and maintain this state throughout the day.

Two, Learn to Spot and Deal with Energy Vampires

Learn to spot energy vampires.  To this you must be grounded.  Practice meditation, which allows you to reach the transcendent.  This will help you become aware negative energy in your surroundings.  Learning to expand your awareness enables you to spot energy vampires outside of the range where they can latch onto your emotions.   You need to be familiar with the signatures of harmful people before they enter your personal space.

If an energy vampire slips inside your radar, you can protect your emotional center with the right technique. It’s essential to practice some phrases, enabling you to disengage from a conversation.  Excusing yourself to go to the restroom is a favorite.

So trust your gut.  It is that sixth sense we talked about earlier.  This trigger is telling you that something is not correct.  Listen to it.  When you identify someone who violates your healthy space, stop and take a break.  Find a way to make some physical space.  When you do this, chances are, they will know they see through their mask.

Three, Protecting Your Soul Center

We have a window of consciousness we call our spirit or soul, which defines us as a single entity. We view reality through this window of perception. Some refer to it as the center of our Being, soul, or spirit. It doesn’t matter what you call it.

You can tell it when something or someone violates this sacred space of awareness. So, when this happens, it’s time for protective measures.  We recommend using a mantra to project a positive shield.  Using a mantra will enable you to maintain emotional equilibrium and block the intrusion of unwanted energy.

It pays to memorize it, so it’s ready when you need it.  If you encounter an energy vampire, then say this Mantra to yourself:

“Om Kshraum Naraismhaya Namaha,”

Literal translation: “I salute AND manifest energy that destroys the seemingly indestructible.”

Summation

So everyone has these qualities to some extent. Even if you don’t fit the textbook Empath definition, you probably have some latent sixth sense ability.  Some people just have a greater sensitivity than most others.

If you desire, you can enhance empathic skills through the use of techniques to expand your awareness.  Thankfully, you don’t need an Empath test to tell if you are sensitive.  If you are, then you already know it.

If you have questions about being an Empath, please contact us.