Myth: Empaths take on other people’s emotions and illnesses
Truth: Empaths do not absorb other people’s shit. We feel it. Period. The emotions of others aren’t contagious. Any ‘taking on’ of has little to do with having a psychic gift and everything to do with being otherwise human. There are plenty of people who choose to take on the Atlean task of holding the world on their shoulders who are not empaths. And there are those who can’t bring themselves to empathize with another while wanting to appear burdened by others shit–projects, problems, whatever. And, while there are plenty of bacteria & pesky viruses that are contagious, an empath is not going to develop cancer or IBS or mental illness by coming into contact with someone who does experience these things. You need to worry more about the cook who doesn’t wash his hands than other people’s emotions.
Any attachments to what we feel from others are directly connected to mental & emotional processes fully connected to our own needs and desires. Our need for inclusion, desire to help, thinking we should do something. Our need for our own release, a desire for usefulness. Our need to understand our ownfineselves, our desire to identify other as self. It’s a human condition that has little to do with psychic gifts. We have the habit of making this kind of thing, well, habit. Sisyphian, even.
That doesn’t mean, though, we aren’t impacted by the energy of others. Not at all. First, there’s the distinct feeling–be it an emotion or illness that we can judge how to deal with. Second, there’s the intentional ignorance of those things. That‘s what buggers us. And, that kids, is connected to the myths of empaths needing to protect themselves & to be grounded. Those are next in this series.