A Peek Inside the Empath’s World

Living and relating in the invisible field

To the person who is an empath it may be difficult to imagine that other people experience the world and those around them quite differently. Empaths come from an innate perspective that everything and everyone is connected even if they don’t quite understand or outwardly acknowledge this perspective.

Empaths are often described at sponges, which is a fairly accurate description, but the reason they are so is because it is hard for them to distinguish any boundaries that exist between them and the rest of the world. As a result, empaths are quick to notice the emotional “tone” of a room and if they aren’t careful, can soon find themselves absorbing that tone even if it is an undesirable one.

An interesting discovery I’ve made in working with empaths (and being one myself) is that empaths often take for granted that not everyone is wired similarly. Empaths tend to be particularly intuitive and tapped into the invisible energies around them. This ability, while often considered a gift, can bring with it a whole host of unique concerns.  In addition to the well-known emotional stress empaths experience from being so energetically absorbent, they tend to also have some other lesser-known responses in common. These responses can make for some challenging and confusing relationships between them and less-empathic people.

Here are just a few ways in which the empath may respond differently than others to the world around them-


1. Empaths, being particularly intuitive to the needs and desires of others, commonly experience high levels of frustration when their loved ones, friends and co-workers are not as sensitive to theirs. Rather than directly asking for what they need they may assume others should already know.

2. Empaths, being accustomed to the world of non-verbal forms of communication, often have difficulty finding their own “voice”. It’s hard to chime in, especially in group settings, when you are dealing with the onslaught of energetic noise. When an empath is feeling this type of overwhelm it’s just easier to take the backseat in conversations.

3. Empaths commonly live their lives in accordance with unseen energies they are receiving and interpreting. Frequently they make their decisions based heavily on this subtle information or intuition. As a result, empaths often feel judged or misunderstood by others who respond only to what can be experienced with the five senses.

4. Empaths, being highly sensitive, often suffer from auto-immune conditions or allergies in response to chemicals and synthetic products. Even on a cellular level they are picking up and reacting to substances that are an unnatural fit for their bodies. Those who have a less sensitive systems may assume the empath is just being a picky or even judge them as being a hypochondriac when they are indeed having a real physiological response to their environment.

5. Empaths, because they can frequently sense potential danger, may have a tendency towards worry and fear. Unfortunately these reactions can limit their quality of life and their relationships if the empath does not find ways to distinguish true life-threatening danger from common everyday challenges.

While I’m sure there are many characteristics of empaths that I may not have shared here, my intent is to shed light on some that are not typically discussed. Whether you are an empath or someone who loves one, my hope is that this list helps to create a bridge between our differences and opens up dialogue that strengthens our bonds.

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