Are you the ultimate mirror? Recognizing your empathic abilities

Empaths are meant to be mirrors of energy, not sponges. As a compassionate helper, you have different spiritual potentials or paths within your own field of work. For example, you may explore creativity, personal truth, integrity or like myself, a path of expression. No matter what your destiny is, you are here to heal not only yourself but also others through your unique method. It doesn’t matter if you do this through writing, being a psychotherapist, medium, coach or nurse, as long as you are learning and growing, according to your life path.

Your life path will be your greatest joy and your biggest challenge. For example, I have encountered people who try to repress or control my personal expression. This occurs when someone is blocked and does not have a desire to grow in their own healthy expression. When I was younger, I absorbed their negativity and felt guilty for speaking up. Through years of healing and personal work, I understand the majority of this energy is their guilt and shame transferred onto me. Knowing this, I now mirror or reflect that energy back.

A Fun House of Mirrors

We all project our thoughts, feelings and ideas into the space around us. This makes you wonder; do I really see people as they are or how I want to see them?

The world of our ego wants to divide, keep people separate, have enemies and keep us all stuck in this illusion. This force seeks to control your environment and all the people in it. You think what you perceive is reality but it is so much more. Look beyond the surface and get to the real story, about ourselves and others.

The Mirror Works Both Ways

Most people don’t like the status quo to be challenged, even us empaths. There are times someone’s insecurity, fears, doubts and powerlessness sticks to your energy field. This is when you need to look at yourself and ask; are they mirroring back to me?

When you feel secure and are standing in your power, you will not feel a pull. If you feel a twinge in your gut or an annoyed feeling, it is sign you have work to do in this area. We are never finished projects, look for opportunities to grow and be grateful when this experience appears for you.

How to Mirror

1. Become a witness and observe. Do not take what others say or do personally. Through mindfulness, which is the practice of being in the present moment, you will detach and see clearly. You may have an A-HA! moment saying to yourself, “This is your block, not mine.” When you are not affected, this is very easy to understand. Everyone on this planet needs lots of practice in this area.
2. Learn about your life path. Self-awareness is essential for empaths. When you know who you are, your strengths and blind spots, you can recognize what is your psychological stuff and what is others. I highly recommend this book and have utilized it for over fifteen years, in my private practice. It accurately identifies, based on your date of birth, what, on a soul level, you came into this lifetime to achieve. The Secret Language of Destiny: A Complete Personology Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers
3. Heal your issues. Where you are wounded, you attach to others pain and take it on as your own. Do not avoid what you feel. Learn how to be strong in your energy, despite feeling triggered. For myself, I needed to learn communication, assertiveness skills and self -esteem. When I express assertively, it may cause a reaction in someone else, but I know I am in the clear.

You may not mirror back perfectly. Often you do not have to say a word, it is best not to. Verbal mirroring is best kept to the psychotherapist office or coaching session. If you feel you must speak. Ask someone if he or she is open to feedback. You can simply say; Are you open to some feedback? If they are not looking for feedback, do an energetic mirroring with steps one through three above.

When you drop the scripts and stories in your head, you see a larger purpose. If someone else can’t see their illusions and projections, remember to detach from other people’s stuff. This is their karma not yours.

Lisa Hutchison LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist and writing coach who helps sensitive souls not just survive but shine. She is the Amazon bestselling author of I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers and the kindle book Setting Ethical Limits for Caring & Competent Professionals. Get a FREE 10 page E-book; 8 Simple Things That Release Chaos from Your Life Now at http://www.lisahutchison.net

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How to Boost Your Energy Vibration while Social Distancing

One of the biggest challenges for sensitive people is maintaining their energy in uncertain times. Living during a pandemic is incredibly stressful. In order to slow the spread or flatten the curve of the Coronavirus, we have been instructed to practice social distancing and stay at home.

Social distancing is a new word and practice for our consciousness in 2020. It is the practice of standing at least six feet apart from others, who are not your household members, when you have to perform essential travel outside of the home. This necessary practice has cancelled in person meetings and events.

Why it is essential to boost your vibration

An empath’s energetic system, when not properly maintained and protected, is porous, like a sponge. This makes it easy to absorb anxiety, outrage and depression from the people, places and things around you, leaving you feeling fatigued and your immune system vulnerable.

When you vibrate at a higher frequency of energy, you will feel healthier, calmer and happier. Those who take care of their personal energy, report more satisfying interpersonal relationships, a sense of belonging and feeling connected to the Divine or something bigger than themselves. When you boost your energy vibration, this helps you create a world you want to live in. One sign you are on the right track is an awareness of synchronicity because you are connected to Divine not societal energy.

You cannot control what happens outside of yourself, but you can choose to give your energy vibration a lift with these strategies.

• Recognize and let go of your draining thoughts, emotions and images

Too much anxiety, guilt, depression and anger will impact your mood and energy in a negative way. Affective therapy (connecting to your feelings) and expressive art techniques can help you, along with other treatments to feel, release and shift your feelings.

Sensitive people can be more at risk to experience trauma through disturbing images and the news. With this information age, it is easy to encounter videos and social media posts you would rather not see. These pictures can remain in your mental field long after the viewing has taken place. If you are struggling with this, here are two blogs about the impact of trauma: We are Living in a Time of Trauma  and How Trauma Gets in the Way of Relationship Success

Faulty thoughts such as; I am not good enough, I should or I must do this, restrict your joy and lower your vibration. Cognitive distortions can be difficult to identify. If you find yourself stuck in thoughts, emotions or images, reach out to a licensed psychotherapist, who can help restructure these thoughts and specializes in post traumatic stress disorder. You can receive therapy from the comfort of your home via phone or computer.

• Move on from the past

We are living in a new time which requires new habits. I know you miss traveling and hanging out with friends, I do too. At this time, we need let go of the old ways and embrace new habits.

Your mind can get stuck in positive or negative memories. We all have a tendency to remember the negative, this is known as a negativity bias. This bias fuels depressive disorders. Although people and places change, sometimes it is difficult to accept and see a new reality. When you hold on too tight, you miss out on the joys happening right now.  Forgiveness, mindfulness (the practice of being in the present moment), gratefulness and healing old relationship patterns will shift your energy for yourself and with others.

• Let go of other people’s energy

As a sensitive person, you can pick up on other people’s moods or pain, in addition to your own feelings. When you help others during this pandemic, you may experience stress or trauma, making it difficult to separate what is your energy and what is others. Recognize the signs of emotion overload (compassion fatigue or burnout), identify what is your energy and what is other people’s. My publication I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers can help you identify these kind of energy drains and gives you some helpful information to replenish your vitality.

• Release clutter in your physical space. 

Let go of old papers, clothes, books and other objects you no longer resonate with. Each item you bring into your home has an energy attached to it. This force can originate from the person who created it, packed it, unpacked it, delivered it or even the cashier.

When you bring something new into your home, disinfect and energetically clear it. Lite a sage or smudge stick to clear the energy.  Open a window and allow the smoke to carry the excess energy away from you and your home. If you have client sessions by phone or computer, clear the house as you end the work day.

Be well. I am here for you by phone or computer, if you are looking for a compassionate therapist during this stressful time.

Lisa Hutchison LMHC  is a licensed psychotherapist and writing coach who helps sensitive souls not just survive but shine. She is the Amazon bestselling author of I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers and the kindle book Setting Ethical Limits for Caring & Competent Professionals. Get a FREE 10 page E-book; 8 Simple Things That Release Chaos from Your Life Now at http://www.lisahutchison.net

 

4 Easy Ways to Refill Your Cup

How do you recharge and rejuvenate your energies after a long day caring for others? 

I spent many days coming home from work, exhausted on the couch. I would tune out from my hectic day by switching on the TV. Weekends were spent much the same way with the dreaded Sunday afternoon and night thinking, I have to go back to work. I didn’t see a way out of this pattern.

My body began to break down. I became sick and tired physically, mentally and spiritually. I hit my rock bottom with this way of living and decided; enough is enough. I did research, consulted healers, found what depleted my energy and what rejuvenated it. Things began to turn around when I learned how to fill my cup.

1. Become aware

This takes some time and practice, as the society we live in does not support introspection. I recently heard; why are introverts told to speak up yet extroverts are not told to listen more? The point is you cannot change who you are. Whether you are introverted, extroverted or a combination known as ambivert, each energy is needed to create the beautiful world we live in.

Learn what kind of personality you have and become mindful of your present moment. When you witness what is happening within your body and around you, you become empowered to make healthier choices about your energy.

2. Learn how to identify and put your experience into words

Many helpers are outwardly focused on how others feel. Often you ask; what can I do to make you feel better? In order to refill, you need to turn some of that compassionate focus around.

You cannot solve a problem, you cannot name. Sometimes you don’t even know what questions to ask yourself to turn this problem around. I had this issue when I was stuck in the work-fatigue cycle. Start to journal each day, even briefly. This helps you connect within and write out what you are thinking and feeling. You can speak it, but there is a power in seeing your truth in the written word.

3. Plan to protect your energy

As a compassionate helper, it is important to learn how to protect your energies from people, places and situations. There are numerous ways to do this. Once you find what works for you, implement these strategies into your schedule each day.

4. Find ways to maintain your energy

What gives you energy and fuels your passion? Look at what is working in your life. These activities and people will help you rejuvenate your energies.

Lastly, learn about and buy this new Amazon bestseller I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers. 

Whether you are feeling disconnected and depleted or are already connected and looking for new ways to increase your energy awareness, this journal provides lots of easy ways to recharge and rejuvenate your energy. Filled with helpful suggestions, writing prompts and space to journal your thoughts, you will generate problem solving for this common issue many helpers face.

Here’s what inside:

How to Use this Journal

The Energy Scale

Are you an Ambivert, Extrovert or Introvert?

Writing Prompts

Plans to Protect or Rejuvenate Your Energy

Ways to Maintain Your Energy

Plus, you get ten to eleven weeks of space to journal and record your observations.

This makes a great gift for friends, family and other loved ones, of course do not forget to include yourself!

BUY yours first and then get one for a friend on Amazon.com

Lisa Hutchison LMHC is the bestselling author of I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers, a licensed psychotherapist and writing coach. She specializes in working with professionals who often get drained from their helping efforts, recharge and rejuvenate their energies. Lisa’s psychological advice has been featured in Reader’s Digest and The Huffington Post. http://www.lisahutchison.net