Understanding Empathy from a spiritual point of view?

Question

Cutting a long story short...I have recently discovered that I have strong empathetic feelings for particular people. I have noticed links with the people I have this 'connection' with, such as broken families, and also the fact that the person involved opens doors for me. The recent one gave me a job in a line of work I never thought I was capable...teaching, and the first developed my interest in photography -something that I am now studying! (coincidence perhaps, but I feel too strongly about it) It's all very difficult to explain!
I have to say that these people seem to have done nothing but improve my life dramatically, however, I am aware that I am struggling to control the feelings I get from them, and I find myself in periods of depression - especially when I'm away from the person involved.

I'd like to learn how to control the feelings, and perhaps learn how to use them, if possible?

- I'm not really interested in answers from people who fail to understand emotion/empathy/spiritual related topics or people who simply don't agree or believe in such things.

However if you have a worth while answer, I will be very pleased to hear from you!

Thank you for your time

Answer 1

I think I understand what you're saying. I feel a great deal of empathy, too, and in times past have found it difficult not to feel what everyone else is feeling... I would so easily get swallowed up in whatever those people felt, and then I'd get depressed.

I don't really know how I got out of it, but it seems like I have. I still feel strong desires to be connected with people who have troubled lives, but I think now I have a stronger faith, that is not shaken when they say or do negative or destructive things.

Empathic feelings are very important for spiritual discernment, I believe. Jesus was very empathic... he felt what people felt, and he cried when they cried. I think this kind of sensitivity of the heart is a vital part of our spirituality. I believe that it is possible to become so filled with love that anxiety no longer has a place.

I think the trick is to "go with the flow" of your feelings. Don't dwell upon your desires for those people (or for yourself)... feel the empathy, the pain, the love, the attraction... etc, in that moment when you feel it, but let go of it... let it pass. Live in each moment, and then past feelings and fears about the future don't sap your energy.

I guess, that, to me is faith... when you trust in God that he will direct you in future, and you trust in his mercy enough to let go of the past. You can be happy in the moment, and continue to be sensitive empathically without it overwhelming you.

Meditate (not necessarily sitting down, etc... just empty your mind of past or future, in all of your daily actions). We only need to spare a little time for thoughts of the future or the past, in order to understand things. What is important is knowing what we should be doing right now, and having the emotional and spiritual energy to do it.

Love and best wishes ♥ Email me if you like.

EDIT: My Dad was mentally ill, and until the moment he died, I believe I never realised how much emotional energy I was pouring into him. (My depression decreased considerably at the moment he died, even though I didn't know he had died until three days later).

My hubby, a crystal therapist, taught me this simple trick for emotional/spiritual renewal: Imagine a cord of light/emotion/energy between you and the people you feel connected to. Snip the cord (with imaginary scissors). Imagine it again for every person who you feel is sapping your energy. Snip all those negative, emotion-sucking ties. Once you do this, you will begin to be able to create positive connections with people, where the energy/emotion exchange is two-way, instead of all coming out of you.

Another meditation that helps me, is (throughout my day) to imagine the light from God pouring down through the top of my head, and then out through my feet, into the Earth. This means I am connected to God, and he renews me, and I also let the energy flow into the Earth (as she, too, has a "heart" that feels emotions and pain, and needs renewal from God). Let the energy flow through you... it's a kind of faith in God that the love energy will keep coming into you. God has phenomenal cosmic powers (like the genie, lol) and if you figure out how to connect with HIM, then you won't get drained when you connect with other people who need your help.

♥ ♥ Hope that helps ♥ ♥ :-)

Answer 2

empathy is a cures

been empathic all my life ,an iv gotten lost in other peoples trips uncountable times

just got to develop a THICK SKIN and KNOW you are NOT THEM.

you are you and..... they are they

just takes practice,and a lot of ignoring the red bull in the room.do you see it, then ignore it. [ inner mussel ]