Empathy is an important skill for social interactions.
Highly empathetic people may mirror other people’s movements or emotions, meaning if they see someone else get injured, they might physically react too. If an empath is around someone experiencing a strong emotion, the empath might feel exactly what that person is feeling.
Those who are more in tune with feeling emotions are also more likely to recognize and assess the meaning of facial expressions.
Empaths may pick up on subtle cues in someone’s facial expression or body language that indicate how that person is feeling. They can tell more easily if someone is being genuine or not.
Caring Deeply
The care empaths have and show for others goes beyond that of an average person. They may go out of their way to help others feel happy, comfortable, or safe.
Without checking in on their own capacity and needs, this automatic default mode may lead to blurred boundaries, emotional exhaustion, and burnout.
Sensitivity
Empaths are also more sensitive to elements of their environment, such as smell and sound. They might be more bothered by certain scents or find it hard to concentrate with loud noises.
How to Be Empathetic
Empathy is a trait that can be taught and learned, so it’s possible to increase your empathetic abilities. Here are some things you can practice:
Pay close attention to others. Take some time to observe the people around you. Listen closely to what they say and watch the movements they make with their face and body.
Share your feelings. If you want people to be more vulnerable and feel comfortable sharing their feelings with you, it is important to lead with vulnerability and openness. Talk about your innermost thoughts, feelings, and needs with those who you trust and listen closely when they talk about theirs.
Don’t just hear—listen. When people share their feelings with you, it’s important to take a moment to remember that they are choosing to open themselves up to you in search of your understanding and sometimes even your help. So when they do choose to share those vulnerabilities with you, don’t just wait for your turn to talk—think about how those vulnerabilities may be impacting them. Instead of telling them how you feel or think they should feel, validate how they are actually feeling.
Put yourself in others’ shoes. Imagine a time when you felt a similar way, or had a similar experience, and remember how that made you feel. By thinking about yourself and your own related experiences, you may develop better insight and understanding into the emotions of someone else.
It takes time and practice to become more empathetic, but if you’re committed to doing it, you have already taken the very necessary first steps that will have you on your way to being a more empathetic person.
If you display traits of an empath and are feeling overwhelmed, you might want to learn more about self-care strategies to help you care for your mental health. You may also consider reaching out to a therapist to learn how to establish healthy boundaries with people in your life.
Learning how to build on your existing empathetic traits can help improve your relationships and how you relate to others. Being an empath can have benefits and challenges. If you identify as someone who takes on the emotions of others, you can likely benefit from learning how to care for your emotional health by identifying and setting internal and external boundaries with yourself and others.