The Purpose of Empathy
There has been a lot of ‘buzz’ in spirituality circles about being an empath in the last few years. We write about it, discuss how to define it, process it, identify it, live with it and understand it. What is the real purpose of empathy in regard to our humanity?
Empathy Keeps Our Humanity Alive
The world is in great need of a big hug of empathy. We are all stronger, wiser, and better when we can unite in Spirit and common goals for our future.
Those who study empathy say it is acquired by nature and nurture. The ability to understand what someone else is feeling and then offer support is a skill that many of us enhance as we evolve through life. As children, we see examples of great empathy, along with those of shocking apathy, in others around us. We begin to recognize the difference between people who care. Those who are sensitive to our needs and those who disregard our feelings entirely. Some of us are born incredibly sensitive and feel every emotion through the energy that surrounds everything. We often seek comfort in quiet places, away from conflict and loud and argumentative people. Others who are less sensitive may love to argue, seek out those who are weaker, and criticize everyone around them. They, too, can learn empathy after several years of life experience and knowledge.
Empathy keeps our humanity alive. It is the ability to care about and understand each other. Social interaction depends on empathy and common ground to operate forward positively. Empathic people will reach out to support others and help. It doesn’t have to mean that they absorb another’s sorrow and then hold on to it. It is also a skill we use to remember how to stay grounded in our own energy fields when we are comforting someone else as well. We can feel, care and assist while still maintaining our emotional and spiritual balance. Our words and actions can help others in their healing process when we can relate to their experience and share that we have also gone through it.
Knowing that we are seen, felt, and heard helps us see others too. It builds our capacity for empathy when we hold space for another person. As children, we may test the boundaries of empathy because we are learning how and why it matters. Many of us are taught that we should treat others as we wish to be treated and until we experience both empathy and cruelty from others, do we fully understand why.
There are several different types of empathy. Firstly, understanding how another person feels, physically feeling their pain, and knowing they are in pain just by being near them, sharing their existence. Highly empathic people attract others who are seeking validation and support. Characteristics of an empathetic person include being a great listener, checking on loved ones regularly, having difficulty saying no and setting boundaries, and feeling drained in social situations. It’s important to remember to set boundaries to avoid getting overwhelmed by feelings.
People who lack empathy tend to have little care for those in unfortunate circumstances, usually blaming the victim for their situation. When they are faced with the same challenges, they tend to blame everyone else but themselves. They are unable to identify with the pain of others who are different from them or who they consider below them in status. In the most severe cases, they intentionally hurt others mentally or even physically in order to take control, feeling entitled to do so. Many empaths learn to read these types of energies, avoiding their presence whenever possible or have methods of shielding others’ intentions and negativity.
The world is in great need of a big hug of empathy. We are all stronger, wiser, and better when we can unite in Spirit and common goals for our future. We have survived as human beings because we cared for each other. We have been consciously learning since we incarnated here how to live healthier, wiser, and stronger through empathy, sowing the future of humanity.
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About the Author:
Judi Lynch is a psychic medium, intuitive counselor, healing channel, and author. She is president of the Crystal Healing Foundation, Inc., a 501(c) spiritual charity, and a writer for OMTimes Magazine. She has authored two books, Friends with Lights and Conscious Ascension, and has read for clients all over the world. To learn more or contact us for a session, see judilynch.com
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