~ Spirit Science – Empathy is the ability to recognize and feel other people’s emotions. Sympathy is feeling compassion for other people. Often times to be an “empath” means that you are absorbing much of the pain and suffering in your environment, which can sacrifice your own ability to function on a higher level. If you have ever been in a room with a negative person, you know just how toxic their energy can be. Learning to stop observing other people’s energies is such a great spiritual skill to have.
Here are five ways to stop absorbing other people’s energy:
1.Remember you can’t please everyone – If someone is bullying you, complaining about you, or dissing you, don’t make it your mission to try to convince that person to like you. This will only suck you deeper into that energy field and will make you energetically dependent on their opinion of you. Not everyone is going to like you. Everyone on earth is living here for a different purpose.
By loving yourself first, you will create a force field around other people’s opinions that will protect you from being so drained by their opinions. Also remember, you can change everyone. Don’t make it your mission to fix them and now moment either. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is not try to change them but to just not feed the energy that they are projecting at you.
2. Be careful who you invite into your life – your body, mind and direct environment is your temple. Who are you inviting and? Is it an open invitation? Do people even have to wipe their feet clean before walking around or is it okay if they drag the mud onto your soul? In Brazil there is a slang word called ‘folgado.’ the direct meaning is “loose” or “lazy” but it really means “freeloader.” There is not exact English equivalent though because it is a mentality even more than a lifestyle.
If you give a person a piece of bread one day, they will be asking for the loaf the next. If you let someone stay for the weekend, they will then try to stay the week. I once thought my wife was cold and mean-spirited toward some of our neighbors. Once I realized she was merely respecting herself and her home, I valued her direction and adopted it as my own. It is great to be generous but there is a fine line to work with so you are not being trampled on, thus disabling you from helping those who truly need it. Learn to say “no” and to be okay with that.
3. Stop paying attention – A parasite needs a host to survive. When you pay attention to somebody else, you are giving them energy. Whatever you focus on growth and energy vampires will steal your thoughts – decreasing your energy levels. Some people will dump their energy on to you and then drive onto the next pitstop. A friendly ear can be a wonderful thing but there is, again, a line that does not need to be crossed.
Perhaps you found yourself being the source of a person to relay their frustrations at work, a relationship or even successful accomplishments. All of these emotions can train you in various ways and cause you to measure your own life in ways that are not productive. Love yourself enough to tune them out, tell them to stop, or tell them you can’t handle it right now. It’s not mean a view to reject their toxic energy.
4. Breathe in nature – go into nature, meditate, relax and breathe. Purify the water within yourself, exercise and flowed easy. Like a butterfly, flow gently but move fast. Breathing increases the blood flow circulation around the body and will help prevent absorbing the negative energy from those around you. Walk in confidence, keep your head up and don’t allow anyone to make you feel inferior. The caterpillar eats everything around it and becomes that, in mobile. You must first become light in order to fly.
5. Take 100% responsibility for your thoughts and emotions – How you feel is 100% your own responsibility. The universe is sending people into your life to test us. The perception we have of ourselves is greater than the perception others have of us. You are not a victim, nobody has power over you. Consider how your thoughts or expectations may have manifested the situation that is bothering you. What is the answer lies within your level of patients, irritability, or compassion? Unless we take time to look, we subconsciously affirm our own victimization to the world around us.
Once you hold yourself accountable and responsible for the way you choose to respond to something, you connect with yourself on a deeper level. When you are connected to yourself on a deeper level, you don’t get knocks off your center as easily.
Place yourself in situations that boost your own energies. Does this person make you feel good? Do you make that person feel good? You are worthy of a brilliant experience and it is time to realize that fact. Learning to protect yourself against other people’s energies starts with self-love. Remember that you are worth happiness and peace, it’s okay to say no. You are the author of your own energetic state!