Inner Power Coaching For Empaths And Highly Sensitive People: I'm an Empath, Now What?

Has anyone ever said "you have a trusting face?" Do you find yourself listening with ease to other people's problems? Do strangers easily share intimate secrets? If so, you probably have gone through life being more affected by other peoples' energies than you realize. Perhaps you already know that you're off the scale, so to speak, in terms of your ability to feel and perceive others. Perhaps only just now are you waking up to the fact that the shape and trajectory of your life has been unconsciously influenced by the desires, wishes, thoughts, moods, and sensitivities of others.

As an empath, you are someone who has been hard-wired, from birth, to perceive and literally experience the thoughts, emotions, physical sensitivities, and spiritual urges of other persons. It is much more than being a highly sensitive person, and not limited to just emotions. For you, it can be like living an episode of Star Trek! You don't even have to try and you just know the motivations and intentions of other people.

You cannot change the fact that you are an empath. It is akin to your eye color. You either are or you're not. It is not teachable; it's not something to learn. However, you can learn to manage and adapt to your empathic nature. Hopefully you have, or will now, make it your intention to modify the intensity of the experience through adaptive means (meditation, movement, grounding, wearing protective stones). However, it is quite common for empaths to modify the feelings through not-so-adaptive means (alcohol, drugs, addictions). If you fall into that category, it is completely understandable and you are not alone! Almost every empath whom I have encountered has, at one point or another, sought to alter their mood through drugs, alcohol, or sex.

The definition of being an empath means you are always "on," constantly available to process other people's feelings and energy. As an empath, you have a gift, or in many cases, what may feel like a serious curse! For now, let's set aside any notions of judgement. Even if it feels like an overwhelming burden, which it certainly is at times, our responsibility is to ourselves first, others second. So with that in mind, let's focus on how we can take responsibility for managing our energetic sensitivity.

Beware, though. Identifying and recognizing yourself as an empath may give you a charge. It may cause lingering sensations of relief, bordering on giddyness. You will come to understand that you are not alone. Despite what doctors may theorize, there truly is nothing wrong with you. Chronic fatigue? Vague environmental sensitivities? These are more attributable to others and outside influences than to anything about you.

It's not you. It really is not you.

So with that in mind, let's talk about what I have found are 5 of the most helpful methods of keeping yourself clean, strong, and healthy as an empath, free of the negative energetic influences of others.

1. REFRAME YOUR MENTAL OUTLOOK

Being an empath is indeed a burden at times. To be maximally effective, we must do what counselors call reframing, that is, changing our mental outlook so there is no room for blame. We can do very little to change our currently inherited genetic characteristics (although I believe that prayer from a sincere heart can change the past, present, and future. But that's a whole other story for another book!).

Somewhere along the line, it is my belief, and my personal belief only, that empaths have agreed to help come to the Earth in this time of tremendous social, political, and environmental transition to be the "vacuum cleaners." Have you heard the phrase, we are the angels we have been waiting for? Well, for empaths, we are the janitors we have been waiting for! We are the ones whose task it is to clean up the suffering that we individually and collectively created in the past. This is a personal outlook that serves to help put my gifts in perspective. It also helps to promote what I believe to be my serious responsibility to myself and others. It is ultimately my own choice to fulfill that responsibility. And whether or not you choose to view your empathic nature in these terms is ultimately up to you.

It is helpful to take a close look at our personal narrative. What are the stories that we tell ourselves as we wash dishes or peel potatoes? If we believe in a story that we need protection from evil spirits or negative energy, then we more likely set ourselves up for the manifesting of that scenario. So often, we perpetuate a story of needing "protection" or defense. It's logical, because we understand what's it's like to be knocked around by other people's energy. However, I don't think that it's maximally effective to focus on protection, because it inherently assumes we are weak. If we focus instead on how to maintain a strong healthy aura, any negative energies will be naturally dispelled. Negative energy cannot exist in the presence of light. To use a sports or political metaphor, it's a question of whether you want to be on offense or defense. Focusing on promoting positive strengths is almost always more effective than a mental outlook that's designed to protect your energy from invasion.

2. USE PROTECTING STONES AND WEAR A MEDICINE KIT

Stones have been known for their healing and protective properties for thousands of years. Stones are the oldest material on the earth, they are living creatures who offer their medicine to us if we will use it. Stones can be worn by carrying a medicine pouch around your neck or by wearing stone jewelry. I have found that the three best repellants for negative energy are Tourmaline, Onyx and Obsidian. Just like you, your stones must be cleaned regularly. I clean my stones usually every few days, depending on the intensity of my daily energetic interactions. Give your stones at least 2-3 hours of direct sunlight in a crystal or glass bowl filled with sea salt and water. If you can't get access to sunlight, run them under some tap water. It does almost as good a job. On my website, I sell Empath Power Kits for a nominal fee. These kits are designed specifically for empaths, containing the top 10 stones and herbs for protection, energy clearning, and aura amplification.

3. USE NEW TECHNOLOGY

There are several great products now appearing on the market, and they are fabulous. The first products that deserve mention are far infrared lightwave (heat) producing mats that penetrate deep into the body. I own a massage-table size product called the Amethyst BioMat that I have found indispensable in cleaning out junky energy. I lay on it every day when I feel energy accumulation. I recently lent mine out to a friend, and after three days, I feel like a part of my body is missing! I also use it with clients to enhance bodywork and deepen relaxation. It uses far infrared heat, coupled with negative ions and the healing power of Amethyst, to increase blood circulation, thus producing an artificial fever in which the body's immune system is stimulated. As you relax on top of the warm Amethyst, toxins are cleaned and delightfully scrubbed away in as little as 30 minutes a day. I don't endorse any particular product, but if you can afford it, this can be quite a powerful way to keep yourself energetically clean.

The second set of products worth looking into are the Electromagnetic field (EMF) protectors now on the market. It has been my experience that finding the right EMF protector for one's unique energetic makeup can be hit or miss. I tried several products without success before finding the EarthCalm pendant. It's an actual scalar resonance electric circuit which supposedly grounds one to the Earth's energy field. I don't know much about that, but what I do know is that it worked for me. I could feel the energy swirling in my field the moment I put it on. It is really crucial to understand that everyone's energy system is different. Some products, including the Earthcalm, may actually do the opposite of what they are intended to do and make your sensitivity even more pronounced. So with that in mind, ask any sales representative to let you try the product before you buy.

There are many additional new technologies that I use and promote to clients; including the Lifewave nanotechnology energy and sleeping patches, which are available on my website. The full details of these and other additional technologies appear in my Complete Empath Toolkit, or if you elect to receive Inner Power coaching.

4. MOVE!

Exercise and movement in any form are great ways to move out old energy and pull in fresh energy. Martial arts are beautiful for the unforced manipulation of energy (e.g. bringing or allowing in energy at will, through only intention). A simple movement of one's arm might be enough, or even a simple acknowledgement that your wrist hurts. The body responds to our focused attention in-kind.

If you are intimidated by the concept of martial arts, then try yoga, Tai Chi, or a user-friendly practice such as Nia, which is now emerging worldwide. I certainly wouldn't be as effective without my daily Nia practice. Nia is a practice that re-trains the nervous system by combining a series of intentional, healing body postures with the power of dance and yoga. I find it to be the most joyful and playful experience of every day.

In the coaching work that I do with clients, I teach a step-by-step method called "Shifting Consciousness through Dimensions," which is a form of neurological re-training devised by one of my mentors. This material is purposefully not available on the web or in any books. The knowledge of this method has been developed specifically to be transferred from person-to-person. I consider it an honor and privilege to be able to pass this information along to clients.

5. PROGRAM YOUR BRAIN WITH AFFIRMATIONS AND PRAYER.

The practice of affirmation is an easy target for comedians (e.g. Al Franken's Stuart Smalley) who mistake it for self-indulgence. Yet the actual physical voicing of particular words and sounds produce a powerful effect in our energy fields. In the work that I do, this is known as neuro-linguistic programming. The brain and body are programmed to produce good feelings with the repeating of certain mantras, words, or phrases. The process is designed to stimulate the nervous system into intentionally producing the actual energetic vibrations and feelings of peace, happiness, joy, and tranquility. With practice, particular combinations of sounds and phrases will align all of the energetic bodies; spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental.

When you become a conscious empath, you will dramatically reduce your stress and anxiety, improve your mental outlook, improve relationships, and lead to a freedom and liberation previously unknown. You will be able to create joy where none was before present. In situations where you previously felt trapped, you now can bring in positive energy to change situations. You'll begin to light up other people's lives in a new way, and fulfill your destiny to help others. All of these skills take practice. With time, they will come more naturally. At some point, you will reach a tipping point; a critical point where your awareness exceeds your unconsciousness. It takes work on yourself to get to this place. Some people go all their lives and never reach it, but only for lack of will. If your will is strong enough, you will reach a place of emotional maturity.