Protect Your Sensitive Soul

Have you ever cried while watching a movie? Or when your favorite character in a novel dies? Have you ever been around someone that was sad and you felt those emotions yourself?

That's empathy.

Empathy is the ability to recognize and feel the emotions that are being experienced by someone else. You are able to understand, be aware of, and be sensitive to, the feelings and thoughts of others. Compassion and empathy are often intertwined.

Empathy is a really great quality to have. It allows you to connect with other people and form bonds and relationships, it helps you to be a good listener, and a wonderful healer. Empathy can also be a lot of other things.

Frustrating.

Confusing.

Overwhelming.

Hurtful.

I'm naturally a very sensitive person and empathy often goes hand-in-hand with that. I pick up moods and feelings very easily and this can be very problematic at times. My good moods drop significantly when being around people who aren't happy. I feel another's hurt and pain so clearly sometimes that it becomes my own. For example, one of my friends was up for a promotion at work and when they didn't get it, I legitimately cried because I was so upset for them. That's when I have to allow myself to step back and take care of my own needs and my own emotional wellness. I've learned a few things in my journey.

Shielding

There are a ton of ways to shield yourself. Shielding is making a mental bubble or shield around yourself and not allowing the things that you don't want in, get in. This is great for the workplace, especially if you work with a lot of negative and grouchy people. All you need to do is picture some sort of shield or bubble around yourself. Repelling all of the yuckies and keeping you safe and protected from the negative juju.

Check out

I pride myself on being an excellent listener but sometimes in a conversation all you can do is check out and revert to a polite smile and a head nod as opposed to letting what they sink in and bother you. It's also an excellent idea to use your imagination if you able. When you are in those tense family situations, or in an unhappy environmental, get thee to thy mental happy place! Transport your mind to some place calm and happy.

Self Awareness

Become aware of what your feelings are and how that is separate for what you are feeling for someone else. It can be hard to distinguish between them sometimes, especially when it's someone close to you. Ask yourself "What am I feeling?" then look at what you need to feel better. If the answer to what you need to feel better is about someone else then chances are it's time to step back into yourself.

Put Yourself First

Always remember that you were put on this earth to live your life first. You can't live your life for your spouse, your children, or your friends. Of course they are a big part of it and you make sacrifices for them, and that's wonderful, but make sure that you are allowing yourself to have a life for you as well. Do not got so caught up in meeting other people's needs that you forget your own!

Mwah! xoxo