ARE YOU AN EMPATH? TAKE THIS HANDY QUIZ!
Are you an empath? YourTango.com has published a handy guide to find out if you are. An empath is a person who deeply feels the mental states and emotions of others. In a way, they are like sponges soaking up the emotional energy of those around them. For example, empaths are typically able to tell when someone near them is feeling upset or angry without that person ever directly saying so. (* In this way, married men are really, really good good empaths.)
Here are 8 traits that are signs of you may be an empath, plus how to use each of these empathic abilities as your own personal “superpower.”
1. High sensitivity to any negative energy or “bad vibes.”
How to use this empathic ability as your superpower: Turn bad vibes into good strategy by thinking of the vibes and emotions you pick up on as information. The more information you have at your disposal, the better equipped you’ll be to make wise decisions.
2. Anxiety about problems that have yet to materialize.
How to use this empathic ability as your superpower: As an empath, maybe you’ve started to notice that there is an unusual amount of tension between two of your friends, for example. Use your empathic abilities to diffuse the situation before it becomes a nightmare, or by preparing yourself for the eventual fallout should your efforts at peacemaking not succeed.
3. Awareness of what others are feeling without them having to tell you.
How to use this empathic ability as your superpower: If your best friend, significant other, or family member has been radiating aggressive or sad vibes lately, take that as a cue to step in and have a heart-to-heart.
4. Awareness of tensions between others, even when you aren’t part of the issue.
How to use this empathic ability as your superpower: An empath will pick up on any anxiety in the office, which can often negatively impact their own emotions, and potentially even hinder their work performance. Knowing the state of your work environment can help you get through the day unscathed and relate better to your fellow workers.
5. Foresight into things that are about to go wrong.
How to use this empathic ability as your superpower: An empath will be able to tell when things at work or in their personal relationships are not going well. If you start to feel a sense of dread or foreboding, you can begin preparing yourself for bad news before it arrives.
6. Strong intuition.
How to use this empathic ability as your superpower: The sooner you recognize a proverbial runaway train is headed your way, the sooner you can get out of the way and tend to your wounds.
7. A knack for problem-solving.
How to use this empathic ability as your superpower: Someone near you might be feeling depressed, but no one else has picked up on it or has bothered to talk to them about it. If you can sense what someone else is going through, you can be the person who comes to their aid.
8. A deeply caring nature.
How to use this empathic ability as your superpower: If you have any or all of the empathic abilities listed above, use them for the good!