Self care for empaths

Because empaths feel other people’s pain and suffering so keenly, it is easy to engage in caretaking for others. Empaths tend to gravitate toward the healing professions such as teaching, nursing, and counseling. We often forget that our needs are important too. It’s difficult to operate from an empty vessel.

Here are some suggestions for self-care practices for empaths:

• Develop a morning practice of grounding yourself fully into your body. By starting the day being centered in who you are, you are less likely to take on external energy.
• Play with the concept of being less like a sponge and more like a screen door.
• Ask yourself, “Is this mine or someone else’s?” when you first start feeling uncomfortable energy. If it’s not yours, let it go.
• Take care of yourself through proper nutrition, hydration, rest and exercise. A strong body equals a strong aura, the first line of defense against taking on external energy.
• Recognize that it is not your responsibility to fix or save anyone else. By taking on a loved one’s pain, you are only harming yourself. You can do much more to support friends and family members by holding space for them from a place of neutral compassion.
• Set clear, healthy boundaries around your energy.
• Identify and work on shifting limiting beliefs that allow you to take on the pain and suffering of others. An example of a limiting belief: “I am responsible for other people’s feelings.”
• Be conscious of what you use your energy for. Are you in agreement with this? You have the divine right to choose how to use your energy.
• Utilize the healing power of nature to cleanse your energy and regroup when you pick up heavy energy.
• Give yourself a break from news consumption when the pain and suffering in the world becomes overwhelming. It’s okay to take a timeout.