Empaths have to give all the time. They have to be “on” all the time. It’s their job to “be there” — it’s an innate part of them. They don’t try to save themselves; they try to save everyone else.

An empath will always help others because if they do, their own fear and anxiety disappears for a while. Crises in the world make it even more difficult for them. Empaths are really caught in a riptide when people turn to them for comfort due to their own problems, and when people turn to them for comfort because the world is spinning out of control.

But the thing is, if you fight a riptide, you drown. If you fix your eyes on one spot on the beach and swim for it, the ocean will kill you. Your fear will make that happen even faster. You won’t make it.

Surviving Riptides

To get out of a riptide, you swim in it. You’ll either escape from the edge of it, or you’ll ride it, but either way, you’ll get back to shore. You might be miles away from where you meant to be. But that’s only frightening if you think it is.

Just because you are not in control doesn’t mean you are not living your best life. You can’t control the world-events riptide, but you can be in control of your own riptide, your own emotions.

Pause with Purpose

Self talk only works when you actually hear what you are saying. Empaths today are hearing their own meditations at a far deeper level than before.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it is that most people know what they need to do. Empaths, especially, have a deep understanding of their situation. All you have to do is trust your own wisdom and intuition.

Sure, there are moments of sadness. You can’t ignore the realities. You can’t accept anything, or grow, or heal yourself through hatred and anger, either. Just like you can’t break a bad habit by hating yourself for it.

Empaths feel the whole world, and you’re sad because you see so much that could be done. You can vividly imagine how we could get away from selfishness and help each other instead. I can relate. When I was a kid, I had a “It’s a Small World” Disneyland toy, and I played the song so incessantly my parents actually broke it.

Wishing for utopia is a beautiful thing. It’s a gift. But only if your utopian wishes leave you in a positive frame of mind. Use those thoughts as teaching moments where you learn about yourself. Really let yourself feel how how big and wonderful this empathy you have truly is. To be able to really feel other people is an incredible gift.

You can feel yourself, too, if you let it happen. Happiness can’t be given to you. It has to come from within. Self love, and gratitude for life, like a kid playing at the beach. We’re all in this riptide together. The survivors are the ones who will be willing to land miles away.

Photo by ART_of_ROSH on Unsplash