copyright © 2000, by Karyn Greenstreet. All rights
reserved.
Being bombarded with energy and information is incredibly stressful. We
were given this "sixth sense" to help us function in this world, so it is very
important how we train it, how we use it, and how we "manage" it.
"Sensing" someone’s pain (empathy), in an objective way,
versus taking someone's pain into yourself, is an important and dangerous boundary. What
we need to learn is how to notice that boundary (even if you have already
crossed it) and how to step back into a "observer" role, more like you are
"watching a movie" versus actually "living the part."
If you're a therapist or a body worker, it can be hard to not pick
up on client’s energy information flow. Of course, there are happy occasions when you
can pick up good "vibes" from people, but what I've noticed most is people
sensing other's in pain, in need, or in a "negative" emotional situation.
Dealing with empathy and dealing with "boundaries" are exactly
the same thing. Many people who are natural empaths (or I should say "strong"
natural empaths since we all are empathic) also have problems with boundaries, knowing
when to say "no," and when to tell others what they need. People who are strong
natural empaths often will work in the "helping" fields like medicine,
psychotherapy, and massage, because they can use their intuition to help others.
But it is a double-edged gift. The gift is that you can use the
empathy/intuition to get insights into your client. The pain is that sometimes you sense
things from people that are "dumped" on you. If you are not shielded, you can
get overloaded and drained: emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
What strong empaths do, though, is to really experience the
feelings or pain of another person. If you are doing healing work of any sort (including
intuitive readings, psychotherapy, bodywork, etc.) and you don't shield, it defeats the
purpose of the healing. If the healer takes on the pain and becomes ill themselves, rather
than channeling healing energy and assisting the person in their own healing, then it is
merely a substitution of pain from one person to another.
Take time to notice, during a reading or a healing, whether you are merely
observing, or if you have crossed the boundary and are "experiencing." If you
feel you are experiencing, use one of the energy cleansing techniques to re-center
yourself back into the Observer role.
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Karyn Greenstreet is a Life and Business
Coach. She helps self-employed people create
and grow their business, stay focused and motivated, and create a balanced life.
Visit Karyn's website at
Passion For Business, small business coaching and consulting for the self
employed..
