Christine Rose Elle - The Happy Empath: A Survival Guide for Highly Sensitive People

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courtesy of Christine Rose Elle.

ISBN: Print 978-1-64152-833-7 | eBook 978-1-64152-834-4

For saving me from despair with your unconditional love, I dedicate this book to Sabrina. For teaching me how to listen to the language of furry creatures everywhere, I dedicate this book to Bella. You are the most precious earthly guides Ill ever know.

Contents

What is life like for an empath? You use your senses to guide your intuition as you process your surroundings and learn about the world. You notice that being around negative people makes you feel off-balance. You attract strangers who overshare and energy vampires who soak up your attention. You recharge by being alone. You are highly imaginative and creative, and you have multiple passions. If this description sounds familiar, youre likely an empath.

While most people experience empathy and compassion, empaths are highly cognizant of their own emotions and the emotions of other living beings. Whether youre introverted, extroverted, or ambiversive, empathy is a key part of the human experience, and when you know how to skillfully navigate emotional territory, you can remain resilient and flexible in almost any situation. Unfortunately, without the skills to navigate their own and others emotional territory, many empaths experience their high sensitivity as a curse rather than as a gift.

There was no schematic for introversion, extroversion, or high sensitivity during the 1970s and 80s. But when I reflect on my behavior during childhood, my empathic nature is evident. I hid in dark closets and under my bed to avoid my noisy siblings and the activity of a chaotic family system. These dim and muffled spaces allowed me to regulate my heightened emotions. During my childhood, I had an ongoing stomach ache because I felt the anxieties of my adult caregivers and took these anxieties upon myself. To cope, I sought the comfort of animals and felt peaceful attuning to them.

I have learned to work with my empathic nature and know that I have a nonnegotiable need for minimal stimulation and quiet time to replenish. I use my skills as an empath in my life-coaching practice to connect and align with my clients at a deeper level. My inner empath also helps me understand people with whom I dont share common values. When I unconsciously pick up someone elses emotions, Ive discovered that its hard for me to discern whats mine. Ive also learned that feeling the emotions of other people is a very powerful tool for creating belonging and connection.

By learning to direct compassion inward, you, too, can transform your emotional challenges as an empath into empowerment. Throughout this guide, youll discover practical tools for managing your life as an empath. Youll learn to recognize unhelpful learned behaviors and how to turn them into intentional actions that allow you to focus on the meaningful parts of your life, all the while quieting the distracting emotions of others.

The Rainbow Quiz will help you identify which of the eight empathic types you most closely resemble. Youll then be able to use this books color-coded tips to learn tools for applying your empathic strengths. Some tips will be helpful to empaths of all typesas well as to anyone who wants to deepen their relationships with others.

This book is your guide to confronting the daily life challenges of an empath. Youll strengthen your empathic gifts using practical tools, and youll learn to identify and recognize unhelpful learned behaviors and channel them into intentional actions. In doing so, youll be able to harness your valuable empathic nature while quieting the distracting emotions that dont belong to you. Learning this distinct form of self-care will teach you to live the vibrant and balanced life of a flourishing empath.

The Rainbow Quiz helps you determine your empathic type, which can help you dig deeper into the tools designed specifically for you. You may identify with more than one type, so focus on your dominant strengths. The Intuitive Empath can use their ability to recognize unspoken emotions in others to better communicate with their partner. The Environmental Empath who works in an office setting can use their knack for creating harmonious spaces to encourage engagement among colleagues.

In addition to the unique qualities of each empathic type, there are many common traits all empaths share.