May 19, 2007
Empath?
Written by Cindy Kirk in Jaunty PostI’m at the Maine RWA’s writing retreat and having a great time! Several of us were talking about certain people that seem to inspire confidences. My husband and daughter can meet someone and know everything about them in a matter of minutes. People are always confiding in them./
I consider that I’m a friendly person but that doesn’t happen to me. Someone tonight told me that some people are empaths….and these are people that people feel comfortable confiding in…
Do you agree?
And be sure to scroll down for Jenna’s question about clicking.
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Isabel Says:
Hi Cindy,
I hope you continue to have a good time at your writing retreat.
I’ve never hear of this term before, but after reading what you wrote, I can tell you with certainty that my DH is one of these people. People are always confiding in him. Complete strangers even.
Rainy Says:
A writing retreat sounds so wonderful!! Is it formal (with schedules)or informal? I’ve got to start making money just so I can get to some retreats!
Well, I must be an empath. People out of the blue tell me all kinds of things and friends and acquaintences also confine in me. Even over the phone, people would tell me their life stories.
Don’t know if they still do Myers Briggs personality codes–it was a 90’s thing–but I was an INFP, which party stands for intuitive, feeling and perceptive, I believe. The thing is I usually enjoy listening to people and their stories. Maybe that comes across.
Clarisse Says:
Rainy, I think you hit the nail on the head. There is a kind of charisma about the natural empath that I think comes from their being the kind of person who just finds other people interesting and loves to listen to them
We had a friend years ago who had more money than God and could certainly have lived happily in his own elevated social strata. However, I don’t think he ever met a person who he didn’t think was the most fascinating person he had ever met. His interest was genuine and it showed and people just blossomed in his presence. The world is a better place because of the existence of people like this.
Shana Says:
I know what you mean. I’m a pretty private person, but once in a while I find myself telling people I don’t know all that well things I’ve told few other people. I always wonder if it’s my mood at the time or that I need to tell someone or if it’s the person I’m talking to.
Michelle Says:
Hi Cindy,
I was great meeting you last night at the writer’s retreat. I find that I only have to ask someone one or two questions and they will tell me so much about themselves, which is great as a reporter for a local paper. I find that many people like to talk about themselves, or are they just comfortable telling me about their lives.
Have fun, write lots.
Michelle Libby
Haven Rich Says:
I have that same issue, with people telling me things they might not tell anyone else. It can be very odd at times but I’m always supportive, even if I don’t agree 100% with their line of thinking.
Think of it this way…in dogs/cats/animals in general. They can sense who is going to be kind to them and who isn’t. People are the same way. However, some people have bad censorious and end up hanging around the wrong people!
BTW some people just give off that “feeling”. I suppose I do that in some people while in others I can’t get them to open up for anything. Some people just draw you.
Deb Estep Says:
I am one of ~those~ people…
An empath.
I came upon this site while doing a blog search on the word empath.
It would be wonderful to meet up with others and share stories back and forth.
First off, let me start by saying I have not always used the word empath to define myself. I did not even know that I was one.
More than 20 years ago I can recall going to ‘amusement parks’ with my then husband and young children. (He’s now an EX - Thank God - lol )
It would happen in less than an hour of being there…. my head was pounding and I felt dizzy.
I tried to deal with the discomfort for the sake of my children, but I always left with a
major full blown headache.
He would rant on the drive home that Mommmy is just no fun and does not like to have a good time.
The truth would not come to me until many years later…
it was not only amusement parks,
it was any place I went where there was a great many people.
The best way to describe it would be like looking at your TV set,
but hearing about 200 different audios at once. Well it’s not like I can actually hear conversations, but I FEEL them.
I feel when others are distressed.
It was about 5 or 6 years ago that an online friend said to me…
‘You are an empath’. He said that because of an email that I sent him … JUST when he needed to hear from a friend.
This happens quite often. I trust my inner knowing and IF I have someone on my mind, it could be because of some good thing, or maybe some not so good thing going on with them.
And…… yes, people stop me ALL
the time even in places like a grocery store and out will spill a life story.
Only very recently like in the past year or so have I been able to ‘bubble myself’ and shield out
some of the contant stream of ….
emotions from others.
Hmmmm that makes me think that maybe I should post about this on my own blog in hopes that empaths would find me.
I hope you don’t mind the extent to which I have written here to explain about it.
One more thing, I think we ALL have the ability to ~tune~ in other people. You are a radio, but are you only tuned in to your OWN channel ?
You can adjust the dial to tune in to others and maybe develop those empath skills.
But let me add… it is a blessing and at times a curse.
Cindy Kirk Says:
Deb,
Thanks for your post. It was very interesting, expecially the part about all of us having the ability to tune in other people.
Cindy
Deb Estep Says:
Hi Cindy
That comment of mine did indeed turn into a ‘post’.
In fact I might have to copy it
and use it as one.
With linking love back here to
where I was inspired.
But don’t worry, I don’t have hordes of readers at my site. LOL
I was just telling someone this yesterday in an online conversation about intuition.
Recently I read a line by author Caroline Myss…
to Paraphrase her she said…
~~ We ALL have abilities. Do not refer to them as gifts. They are skills. Skills need
practice to fully develop. ~~
I am in agreement with Myss…..
I mean, who would think they could pick up a bowling ball for the first time and bowl a 300 game.
xo xo
Deb