Are you a Sensitive Soul?

As a child, I was always told, "You're so sensitive!" and this was not meant as a compliment - heh heh!  Today, I've learned to embrace my sensitivity and capitalize on it.  I recognize my sensitivity as a gift.  For instance, when I walk into a room, I can "read" the energy of it.  If people are excited, angry, sad, confused or whatever emotion might be happening, I can feel it and feel it on a very deep level - to the core of my being! I can then project love into that situation and that can create a feeling of satisfaction within me.  I also find that I have an ability to bring people together and create a feeling of cohesion or togetherness rather than separateness. Of course, this depends on my ability to be "tuned in".  If I am not in balance, then I will generally absorb whatever feeling is going on. And then, I become ill. Being sensitive, to me, means feeling deeply; easily capable of picking up on other's emotions; easily capable of absorbing other's emotions; and having the ability to ask the universe to transform those feelings.  When I check in with myself, I often recognize that another's emotions are rattling around in my bones and psyche.  This has also been called, being "empathic".  For many years, I poo-pooed the word "empathic" and thought, oh, that's just a cop out to not feel one's own feelings.  It's just another way to not take responsibility for one's feelings, a way of saying, "I'm carrying your feelings!  If you would just take responsibility for your own stuff, I wouldn't feel this way!"  Of course, that is coming from a victim stance.  I've discovered that as I have made peace with being a "sensitive soul", I have also made peace with being an "empath". I do experience other people's feelings at a deep level.  However, now, I can often identify those feelings as being separate from my own and then I can ask the universe to transform them into another realm so as to relieve the stress of those emotions.  This is part of my purpose!  Of course, I find that it is easier to do this with strangers or acquaintances than it is with members of my own household because I have my own set of desires and needs that I project onto my loved ones. In other words, I have expectations about their behavior.  The more I can let go of my expectations and take care of my own needs, therefore, coming into the relationship filled up, the more I accept them. Learning to witness my loved ones pain without taking it on is a skill that I continue to hone.  In order to continue to develop this ability as an "empath", I find the following practices to be key in my normal life routine:  cleansing my body with sage or eucalyptus spray, chanting, daily meditation, walks in the woods, healthy eating and connecting with like minded people.  This is the food for my "sensitive soul".
I would love to hear from you and learn about your experience as an "empath" or "sensitive soul"!  I am so glad that you are a light in this world and I am happy to join you on your quest!  In service and gratitude, Jen Paul