Empaths have lots of superpowers that are a gift to our planet. When used skillfully, their talents make them incredibly compassionate and loving people. But, you need to learn how to protect yourself as an empath.
Because, if you’re not mindful as an empath, it can be easy to get swept up into different kinds of energies spiraling in the world. Indeed, it’s possible to absorb the circulating energy from other people or even animals around you. That’s why it’s important to learn how to protect yourself as an empath, so you can embrace being one.
One of the first steps is to differentiate between what energy belongs to you and what energy doesn’t by setting personal boundaries. Setting boundaries (physically, emotionally, and energetically) is a significant step toward reaching your highest potential, through honest communication with your heart and soul.
But first things first: What does being an empath mean?
Being an empath: What does it mean?
An empath can be defined as a person who is highly connected with other people’s feelings and energies.
They can sense what other people are projecting strongly and without – or with little – prior information.
While scientific research is still incomplete to this day, more and more people are opening up to their experience of feeling others’ emotions as their own. When one can tune that deeply into somebody else’s feelings, it becomes more than regular empathy and compassion toward them.
Being so sensitive can have a profound effect on the depth of our relationships and our overall understanding of the world. If you identify as an empath, it’s important to learn how to protect yourself as an empath, so you can make use of your gifts in the most beneficial way to yourself and, by extension, to all beings.
Superpowers involved in being an empath
As explained above, empaths have an increased sensitivity and empathy toward other people’s vibrations and energies. They can connect so deeply with others that they tend to develop powerful and meaningful bonds quickly.
They have a gift to hold safe space, which often makes them wonderful listeners. By simply being themselves, they’re able to provide so much support and healing all around them. It can be incredibly meaningful for them, their loved ones, and anyone they hold space for.
Their infinite loving compassion is much needed in our world and is a remarkable gift to be proud of.
Collectively, and with proper boundaries, empaths can help raise the consciousness of all beings immensely.
Furthermore, their high sensitivity gives them access to strong intuition, allowing them to make powerful decisions from their hearts. They tend to naturally have a rich inner world full of creativity and see deep beauty in small things.
How to protect yourself as an empath
While it’s true that their sensitivity is a gift, empaths need to know how to set physical, emotional, mental, and energetic boundaries in order to protect themselves. Without them, they’re likely to have a harder time embracing their talents and might even end up retreating from the outer world.
Since they are highly sensitive, empaths can feel tired easily when being surrounded by other people. If that’s your case, you may have noticed that you tend to avoid large crowds.
Or perhaps you have a strong sensitivity to senses such as sound, smell, or the sight of light.
Whatever it is, the first step is self-awareness so you can protect yourself as an empath. By knowing – and owning – these truths about yourself, it will be easier for you to set the space necessary to recharge your batteries.
And by being mindful, you will feel more open to the world when you are surrounding yourself with others by choice.
Further, if you’re an empath and are very sensitive to energy, I highly recommend regularly cleansing the energy of your space. Not only does it help to keep the energy high & positive, but it also helps to remove any unwanted & negative energy that might come from outside. Read more about energy cleansing your home here.
The importance of grounding practices to protect yourself as an empath
Regular self-care is another crucial element for empaths (as for everybody, by the way!).
As an empath, taking some time to practice the activities you love, get creative and play, or read a good book will likely provide you with some much-necessary and deserved rest time.
As an empath myself, I can also recommend grounding practices to help you come back to the present moment and what belongs to you.
5 tips on how to protect yourself as an empath
Here are 5 tips to spark inspiration on how to protect yourself as an empath:
Spend time in nature
Few things are as grounding as Mother Earth herself! Taking a walk or any other outdoor activity will expose your entire being to nature, which is a powerful way to calm your nervous system. If you can, try to walk barefoot to connect to the roots of nature.
Practice yoga
Yoga is a holistic spiritual practice in the sense that it can address our physical, mental, and energetic needs all at once. It encourages you to move your body while also working on quieting your mind and anchoring yourself into the present, which can be profoundly healing.
Further, as an empath, it helps you to recharge your batteries, especially if you practice mindful yoga.
When we move mindfully, we constantly check in with ourselves and learn to assess our own energy level and emotions – as opposed to taking on others!
I have created a variety of videos teaching yoga as a spiritual and grounding practice. If you’re curious to find out more, I encourage you to take a look at my Youtube Channel here.
Free flow writing
Journaling is a powerful outlet for your feelings – your own, not everyone else’s!
You can try free-flow writing, a practice during which you write down what’s coming to mind spontaneously and without enough time to overthink it.
It’s an incredible tool to explore your subconscious and differentiate what’s coming from your energies versus what’s originating from other beings.
Wear protective crystals
Besides being visually stunning, crystals also have strong healing properties. Different crystals offer different advantages, but generally, they can help empaths to ground and balance themselves as well as promote positive energy and protect them from negative energy.
If you would like to try out crystals to protect yourself, here are 5 crystals that I’d recommend for empaths:
- Black tourmaline (to cleanse negative energy and ground yourself)
- Citrine (to promote manifestation and activate the solar plexus chakra – your sense of self-power)
- Clear Quartz (to transform any stagnant negative energy to positivity and manifest any intentions)
- Smoky Quartz (to absorb electromagnetic smog, ground yourself, and make you feel safe)
- Amethyst (to sharpen intuition and cleanse negative energy)
Crystals are just one example of how energy work can help you as an empath. If you would like to explore the world of energy more and see how you can enhance your energetic boundaries, check out my energy healing here. An energy healing session could really help you to thrive in life and create positive shifts within you!
Enjoy a warm bath (with Epsom salts!)
What is more soothing than a long warm bath at the end of your day? Light some incense, burn some candles, play your favorite song, and bathe in warm water while enjoying the sensation of your muscles slowly releasing tension.
Add some Epsom salts to add even more healing to this comforting ritual! Epsom salt is an ingredient that offers multiple health benefits such as pain relief or decreasing inflammation.
And if you’d like some more inspiration about grounding practices, I think you will enjoy my other blog post: Get grounded: How to ground yourself.
The power of connecting with other empaths
Although there’s no scientific evidence for it yet, it seems that the gift of being an empath concerns about 20% of the population (so 1 out of 5 people on average).
So, understandably, it can feel lonely to identify as an empath at times! But fortunately, more and more people are finding the courage to speak their truths these days. And it can be profoundly soothing to talk and relate to like-minded individuals.
Now, you might be wondering where to meet other empaths. That’s a great question!
I recommend that you first think of your closest surroundings. Among your family members and friends, is there anyone who seems to find meaning in holding space for other people? Or who appears to be more sensitive than usual?
The internet may also be a wonderful friend in this quest. You can look for forums initiated by empaths and engage with existing threads, or even contact the writer directly. And why not start a conversation? I know that it can feel intimidating, but you might be surprised about the interest it’d foster!
Last but not least, if you feel the call, you’re very welcome to join my next online women’s circle. It will be a safe and sacred space to meet like-minded women from the comfort of your own home.
I would be honored to see you there!
