I honor your journey and that each person has the choice to decide how to self-identify. I would gently state that the two things are not necessarily opposites, but can co-exist. Empaths can be very hypervigilent, turbulent and co-dependent (I spent many years like this and there was nothing magical about it). Empaths can also be confident, hold their presence and make conscious choices that uplift and empower their sensitivity.

I too, have been out there in spiritual groups watching empaths spiral down over and over. Seeming to hold themselves in perpetual victimhood. It’s difficult to witness.

However, I don’t judge that they aren’t really an empath, I assume three things: that they aren’t yet ready to do the shadow work, because at some level they understand how painful it will be. Avoidance of inner work is not just an empath thing, it’s a human thing.

Also, many aren’t even aware there’s a different way of living and interacting. Like most humans, they are in a rut, mentally and emotionally. If you’ve never experienced a healthy relationship, how do you even know it’s possible?

Third, they do not have a loving support system or access to mental health professionals. Many sensitive souls seem to struggle with money and fitting into mainstream culture and goodness knows in America we provide little to no investment in mental well being.

I was fortunate to have all three, to become aware of the dysfunction, to have the courage to face my deepest shadow and access to a supportive family and group of practitioners who held me in loving kindness over the past eight years.

Although most of what created my hyper-vigilance is gone now, I still sense shifts in energy all the time, be it emotional, mental, physical, environmental or collective. The difference is I now understand I am not responsible to be a sponge, fix or rescue.

I do not believe empaths are special snowflakes, who came here to save the world, although we care deeply and many choose a life of service.

We are quite simply more in tune with our surroundings than most people; even to that which is beyond our physical senses. I believe this way of perceiving is within all human beings, that we are evolving in that direction.

However, for whatever reason, some people were born more sensitive to become aware of this first. To learn how to navigate life as an energetically sensitive being, picking up impressions and sensations about others without being told. Discovering how to not lose themselves, to establish a deep sense of personal identity and hold healthy boundaries.

I am grateful to hear of your healing. Often when we go through a this process, our first instinct is to reject the opposite thing completely. I’ve done it myself.

But being empathic is not a ‘fantasy’ ability, it’s a regular and normal occurrence for millions of sensitive souls across our planet. May we all do the important work you are doing to reframe and heal from adverse childhood and adult experiences🙏🏼