This article is for everyone and can be used by everyone, especially by the highly sensitive empaths out there like me. We are going to cover 7 Ways To Protect Your Energy As An Empath So That You Can Feel Better, Think Clearer, and Breathe Easier!
Trust me, these work.
Ever wondered if you're an empath? Is it anxiety or do you just absorb the energy around you or both?
Empaths tend to be sponges of emotions. This can often make it very difficult for them to decipher their own feelings and experiences from the charged energy around them, especially if it is negative. It's very important for an empath to learn how to practice protecting their energy because as they cultivate inner peace and love, they radiate these energies back into the world.
For empaths, socializing can be a tricky challenge. They often are uncomfortable with new environments and can get stressed around new people. Without knowing how to manage your empathic nature, being around people can cause absorption of good and bad moods from others, and some physically feel these energies in their bodies. They usually get very tired, anxious, or depressed after a lot of socializing or from being in a crowd without knowing why.
Does any of this sound familiar? To this day, at nearly every social event I attend, I always find myself needing to step away and clear my energy. I usually just lock myself in the bathroom for longer than normal amounts of time. Before I knew I was an empath I would absorb so much from negative people that I would want to run away, especially into nature, and a lot of times I did. And after being in a crowd I would get home and need to sit by myself for long amounts of time, feeling exhausted.
As an empath myself, I want to share my survival guide to the outside world. And I have some good news. Things can change. You can go about your day with peace and self-trust that no matter what happens, you can handle it. Without further ado...
7 Ways To Protect Your Energy As An Empath
(this applies to anyone looking to manage their energy)
1. Protective Visualization
Image from Pinterest. I do not own the rights to this image. Credit to Leon Brown @beaming.
This powerful technique can be used at the beginning of each day, and when needed throughout the day as stresses arise or energy shifts.
- Close your eyes.
- Take a deep breath. Exhale all the stresses that may be on your mind and set yourself in a calm state of being.
- Visualize a bubble or force field around you. This is the barrier of your own electromagnetic field which spans up to 3 feet from your heart center. What color is this barrier? Is it pink or warm yellow or blue?
- Feel into this space. Feel the safety of your own energy. Feel the distinction between you and the outside world.
- Feel grateful for this divine protection gifted to you to be with you at all times.
- Open your eyes and take on the day. Use this technique with or without your eyes closed when you feel negative energy around you. Take a step back from the person or situation and feel that protection around you.
2. Releasing Trapped Energy Body Scan
Image from Pinterest. I do not own the rights to these images.
You can release and recognize the energy that you've picked up that isn't yours by listening to the wisdom of your body. Your body holds onto things that we pick up throughout the day that become trapped in our energy points, and end up coming home with us. According to acupuncture, emotional pain can be carried in the body.
- Close your eyes.
- Begin slowly breathing in and out, being aware of the sensations in your body.
- Start from the crown of your head, and focus your awareness down your body in each place (you can get a useful meditation app from body scanning to walk you through this).
- When you get to an area of discomfort whether emotionally or physically, take a few breathes to breathe away the tension in that place with every exhale. Thank the emotions or pain, and send them away.
- After meditating, feel if there is still tension trapped somewhere in your body, or intuitively hover your hand over the area you feel led to.
- Pluck out the energy from your body by taking your hand in the air hovering over your body and making the motion of drawing the unwanted energy out away from the body like you are pulling a piece of string. (You can also do this exercise of self reiki healing whenever you feel led, without the meditation, or vice versa).
3. Association Inventory
Image from Pinterest. I do not own the rights to this image.
We've all heard the quote, you are who you hangout with. There's been research that shows that we tend to adapt to our 5 closest influences. These influences can be family, friends, social media, books, music, audios, you name it. Wherever our energy is flowing, as empaths, we are absorbing. This practice is to help you take an assessment of your current influences, and become intentional with where you are giving your time.
- Grab a journal. Write down a list of all the recent influences in your life from the past week - your family, boss, job, hobbies, social apps or common influencers you follow, anywhere you are spending your time or being influenced.
- Make a mark by each item. Write a + sign if you feel you receive positive energy from this influence. Write a - sign if you feel you receive negative energy from this influencer (speaking in terms of overall feelings).
- Take inventory of whether you are spending the majority of the time around negative feelings or positive feelings from these experiences. Be honest.
- Readjust the influences that don't feel aligned with you, whether by limiting time, setting boundaries, setting goals for self discipline, or removing the influence entirely.
4. Spend Time in Nature
Image from Pinterest. I do not own the rights to this image - credit @Reisjunk.nl
The energy of the earth is healing. The healing feminine energy of life surrounds us at all times of the day, every day; and this is our Mother Nature. Grounding and spending time in nature is especially energizing to an empath. This is a safe space to feel without other people's moods or energy vampires around you. Try taking a few hours, if not an entire day, to reconnect with yourself through nature. Dig your toes in the sand, get mud on your hands, or walk in the freshly cut grass. Wherever you are in the world, let the sun lay its rays on your face and recharge. Get quiet. Be still. Just listen.
1. Spend 20 minutes or more in a lush green natural scene. Some studies say this environment can do as much good as a therapy session.
2. Try sungazing to get energy from the sun.
- Go outside at sunrise or sunset, where you are able to see the sun. Avoid going out with the sun is brightest. Don't wear contacts or lenses, and don't look through glass, plastic, or any kind of window. Be barefoot if you can.
- If you are a beginner, pace yourself and start with only a few minutes.
- When the sky is turning colors of pink, gold, and orange, and the sun is low in the sky and has an orange glow, look directly at the sun. Start for a few seconds and look away.
- Look at the sun again, but for a little longer.
- If your eyes hurt, focus on the sun's halo - the area right around the sun.
- Relax and breathe, focusing on absorbing the sun's radiant energy.
5. Emotional Inventory
Image from Pinterest. I do not own the rights to this image - credit the Gottman Institute.
Sometimes it's hard to decipher how we really feel. This can be because of various responsibilities, fast paced lives, stresses, and other people's involvement in our personal space. One excellent emotional health practice is to take a moment to become aware of the swarming emotions within you, or when a big emotion arises, to question who it belongs to. You can also use this emotional wheel to get clear on what your most recent, or long sustaining emotions are.
- Grab a notebook or take a step away to reflect. (A great space to do this is in nature, especially near water as water reflects our thoughts back to us.)
- Write down either the emotions you have been experiencing recently or the emotion that has just presented itself to you and is now taking up a lot of space.
- Ask yourself, "who does this feeling belong to?"
- If you find that the emotion is yours, make a plan on how to best handle it to continue your good feelings from the day.
- If the energy is not yours, simply release the energy by saying, "return, return, return. And so it is."
6. Decerning Your Truth
Image from Pinterest. I do not own the rights to this image - credit _fakito.
As an empath, becoming aware of our needs and truths is highly rewarding and allows us to align with ourselves. It is important for each person to honor their intuition and needs. A great way to start the journey back to your own sovereignty can be found in this practice:
- Grab a notebook or take a step away to reflect. (A great space to do this is in nature, especially near water as water reflects our thoughts back to us.)
- Reflect on the situation you have unsure feelings about or the feeling that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
- Ask yourself the question, "what is my truth?"
- Wait and listen for the answer to come to you. Pray for clarity (if you do).
- Once the answer comes to you, whether then or in the shower or at night or even 2 weeks later, write it down on the piece of paper to keep a log and reference point of your truth.
- Practice listening to what your truth is every moment you can, whether in a conversation before you respond, in a new environment you have to acclimate to, a startling event that caused you to be ungrounded, times you felt unsafe, times of conversational conflict, and with inner feelings. What is your truth in this situation?
Note, this "truth" would be the reality you are experiencing - it is the thing you need to validate and vocalize. This does not mean there isn't room for growth or improvement. Your truth could be, for example, that you get really uncomfortable talking to someone you don't know. Recognizing your truth would mean that you see how your feelings are so that you can take a step back when needed, practice more or say affirmations or visualize a great chat, etc, so that you can grow without being limited by overwhelming emotion. This is different from a circumstance where you are uncomfortable around a family member because, for example, they make rude comments about your profession. In this scenario, it would be useful to validate your truth of feeling hurt by their comments, realize it is causing lower self esteem and work ethic, and set proper boundaries. This is a practice of knowing thyself.
7. Listening To Your Intuition
If you didn't already guess it, the world's best super computer is your brain. Your brain has an incredible and incomprehensible ability to communicate with your intuition to produce any answer you ask it. Ask and you shall receive. Try this practice to further solidify what you've found when reflecting on your feelings:
- Before bed at night, ask yourself the question, "what is the solution to x."
- Wake in the morning and listen for the answer. Sometimes it will present it to you in the form of a dream, so keep a journal by your bed and write down anything you can remember when you wake up.
- Actually listen to the advice and wisdom you received, and take steps to apply it.
How does that feel? Feel any lighter identifying your feelings and increasing your awareness of your inner life? I know I did after trying these!
Practice these tips as often as needed to strengthen your autonomy, clarity, and self appreciation for your beautiful sensitive nature.
As always, these are suggestions to help you practice self compassion, self acceptance, self validation, and listen to your intuition.
Here at Intuition Culture, we believe in empowering YOU to listen to your intuition. We believe wholeheartedly that you are sovereign and so deeply valuable. So last but not least, try this:
1. Make a list of how you will honor your empathic nature, needs, and sensitivities.
2. Order the Protecting My Energy t-shirt or hoodie as a tool to help you practice visualizing your protective bubble!
We created the Protecting My Energy t-shirt and hoodie to speak in validation of your emotional health. We pride ourselves on holding space for you as your mental health clothing line. A place to come and feel seen, held, supported, validated, connected, and enriched. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Your experiences are not crazy. We are here to listen and back you. Thank you for choosing to support your mental health clothing line, Intuition Culture.