Empath

There is a price to be paid for every increase in consciousness. We cannot be more sensitive to pleasure without being more sensitive to pain.  (Allan Watts)

Call me an empath and I will bite my tongue not to laugh. I have been mind-driven all my life, so a less likely candidate I have yet to see. Yet, when my spiritual path opened up a few years ago, I suddenly became aware of the energy of people and places, as well as my own energy. Needless to say, I have changed a lot.

In the olden days, whenever I encountered someone with evil intentions, I would become angry. During those days I weakened my own system with this response. I would fight them and would 'coincidentally' fall sick from time to time. I would escape reality when the pressure got too overwhelming with alcohol or porn. These connections are so plain to see now, but I somehow I couldn't at that time.

Today I feel less angry when I clash with people who are on a collision course with me. Instead, I feel tired and sad. I am empath enough to experience how the other party sucks the energy right out of me. Attack me as a person and I may simply step out of the way; attack my loved ones or my mission and I will stand up to you with a force that will likely surprise you.

I know several empaths who quit their jobs from one day to the next. They did what they had to do in order to protect themselves. I also have a pain threshold. While I don't mind a little fight here or there, I have become sensitive and smart enough to leave a place when love is no longer served.