Empath Management Program Day 1: The anatomy of Empaths
Although you probably have an intuitive understanding of your Empath skills, it's also important to have intellectual knowledge as well.
It's easier for the brain to accept something that it can explain.
As a rule, I don't like to make statements that I can't prove or substantiate with evidence. I have enough background in research to know that scientific studies are usually inaccurately reported or misinterpreted. But in this case, the tools available in research are not sensitive enough to provide the factual evidence we need to build a strong intellectual explanations for Empath skills.
So everything you will read here is my "work hypothesis", meaning this is how I think it works but I am not claiming I have scientific proof to support this claim.
Throughout this program, feel free to keep what feels right to you and let go of everything else.
Physiology of a Thought
Everyone is born an Empath. We all have the physical equipment necessary to pick up on what other people are feeling. But, for most of us, this skill will slowly fade away from lack of practice. To see how this works, let's briefly look into the physiological processes involved.
When you think about something, it triggers electrical activity in your brain. Neurons (special cells that relay information in the body) get activated through a very mild electric current. These neurons then activate other neurons, creating a chain reaction.
Each thought follows a unique "pathway" in the brain, called a neuron pathway. Scientists already know that the neuron pathway varies, depending on the type of intellectual activity you're doing. For example, when language is involved, Broca's area (located behind your left temple) will get electrically stimulated.
All this electrical activity generates a magnetic field (which is true for all electrical currents). As Empaths, we are able to read and interpret this magnetic information. Our own brain translates these magnetic patterns into an emotion that we can personally experience.
Think of it like having a portable MRI machine (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) in your brain. You can "take pictures" of magnetic waves and translate them into something meaningful. Doctors use MRI scans to differentiate between sick and healthy cells. We use it to differentiate between emotional states.
Reading Magnetic Information
Let's take an example to make this more concrete: When someone is angry, there's all kind of electrical and chemical reactions happening in their body (sweating, getting flustered, faster heart beat). All these changes trigger mild electrical currents that create a magnetic field around their physical body.
As an Empath, you are able to scan this magnetic information to "read" their state of mind: this person is angry. Although the pattern changes from one person to the next, Empaths are able to interpret it and translate it. Interpreting the magnetic patterns associated with strong emotions is the most basic form of Empathy. With professional training, you can start to interpret more complex magnetic patterns (such as memories or conscious thoughts).
A few notes about human magnetic waves
Processing Emotional Information
Although we are all born Empaths, most of us learn to ignore the information we pick up from other people through their magnetic field. And there's a very good reason for that...imagine for a moment: every thought, every emotion, from every one on earth is currently generating magnetic information. As an Empath, you can pick up on all of this!
The sheer volume of information is staggering. Early on, adaptive mechanisms are created: Either you shut it down, or your brain attempts to "filter it".
This is how I like to categorize Empath Skills:
PS: In case you're wondering, the Empath Training Program is where you can learn to become a Trained Empath.
Visualizations
Throughout this program, you will complete exercises designed to help you become a Functional Empath. Please keep in mind that I don't expect you to get overnight results. It took me years to learn how to do this. My goal is to give you shortcuts so that you can train your mind within a few weeks...
We'll often use visualizations in our exercises, sometimes in addition to more concrete actions. Visualizations are used by professional athletes to create a reflex within their physical body for a perfect execution when it's time to compete for real. It's like rehearsing in your mind. By holding a mental image of the result they want to achieve, they are triggering physical reflexes within their body to accomplish their goal.
Visualizations on what you want to achieve with your Empath skills will trigger reflexes within your own mind to actually get the job done, even if you have no idea how it's getting done. Just like walking: we don't think of all the muscle contractions needed when we get up. We just have a reflex that takes care of the execution.
Visualization is a two way process: You send requests to your mind (through mental images) and your mind sends you feedback (through mental images and emotions). So if you try to imagine something but you find it hard, you can't see it or you feel negative emotions, this is feedback from your mind telling you that something is not working right. DO NOT FORCE IT! Instead, I suggest you register for an Email Consultation and describe what happened so I can help you resolve what is slowing you down.
Exercise 1: Turn Down The Volume
You are constantly receiving magnetic information from everyone around you. Even on a good day, this can quickly get overwhelming. The first thing we need to do is make sure that you can filter out this information.
My official motto is quite simple: If it feels better, keep doing it!
Back to Empath Management Topics
Home | Site Map | Support | Contact | Policies
Disclaimer: Elise Lebeau is not a licensed Mental Health care professional.
She does not offer diagnostic or treatment. If you have any questions about your mental health, please contact a licensed provider.
Thank you for respecting the copyrights of my work!
Copyright 2002-2008 Elise Lebeau
Although you probably have an intuitive understanding of your Empath skills, it's also important to have intellectual knowledge as well.
It's easier for the brain to accept something that it can explain.
As a rule, I don't like to make statements that I can't prove or substantiate with evidence. I have enough background in research to know that scientific studies are usually inaccurately reported or misinterpreted. But in this case, the tools available in research are not sensitive enough to provide the factual evidence we need to build a strong intellectual explanations for Empath skills.
So everything you will read here is my "work hypothesis", meaning this is how I think it works but I am not claiming I have scientific proof to support this claim.
Throughout this program, feel free to keep what feels right to you and let go of everything else.
Physiology of a Thought
Everyone is born an Empath. We all have the physical equipment necessary to pick up on what other people are feeling. But, for most of us, this skill will slowly fade away from lack of practice. To see how this works, let's briefly look into the physiological processes involved.
When you think about something, it triggers electrical activity in your brain. Neurons (special cells that relay information in the body) get activated through a very mild electric current. These neurons then activate other neurons, creating a chain reaction.
Each thought follows a unique "pathway" in the brain, called a neuron pathway. Scientists already know that the neuron pathway varies, depending on the type of intellectual activity you're doing. For example, when language is involved, Broca's area (located behind your left temple) will get electrically stimulated.
All this electrical activity generates a magnetic field (which is true for all electrical currents). As Empaths, we are able to read and interpret this magnetic information. Our own brain translates these magnetic patterns into an emotion that we can personally experience.
Think of it like having a portable MRI machine (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) in your brain. You can "take pictures" of magnetic waves and translate them into something meaningful. Doctors use MRI scans to differentiate between sick and healthy cells. We use it to differentiate between emotional states.
Reading Magnetic Information
Let's take an example to make this more concrete: When someone is angry, there's all kind of electrical and chemical reactions happening in their body (sweating, getting flustered, faster heart beat). All these changes trigger mild electrical currents that create a magnetic field around their physical body.
As an Empath, you are able to scan this magnetic information to "read" their state of mind: this person is angry. Although the pattern changes from one person to the next, Empaths are able to interpret it and translate it. Interpreting the magnetic patterns associated with strong emotions is the most basic form of Empathy. With professional training, you can start to interpret more complex magnetic patterns (such as memories or conscious thoughts).
A few notes about human magnetic waves
- They can go through solids (such as bones and walls) with very little loss. Which means that you can read people
even if they are far away.
- They are very very very weak and are often called "Subtle Energies". They cannot harm you in anyway.
Processing Emotional Information
Although we are all born Empaths, most of us learn to ignore the information we pick up from other people through their magnetic field. And there's a very good reason for that...imagine for a moment: every thought, every emotion, from every one on earth is currently generating magnetic information. As an Empath, you can pick up on all of this!
The sheer volume of information is staggering. Early on, adaptive mechanisms are created: Either you shut it down, or your brain attempts to "filter it".
This is how I like to categorize Empath Skills:
- Non Empaths have completely shut down their Empath skills and start use other cues to get emotional information (such as verbal and non-verbal indicators).
Over time, they completely loose their Empathic abilities.
- Impaired Empaths have some basic filters but can easily get overrun, especially in a crowded venue or during emotional turmoil. They tend to
experience emotional distress (i.e. feeling the weight of the world) and physical symptoms (i.e. exhaustion, headaches, depression)
- Functional Empaths are able to control the flow of information so that it does not create emotional distress or uncomfortable physical symptoms.
- Trained Empaths are able to interpret complex emotional information accurately and use it for specific purposes (such as healing work).
PS: In case you're wondering, the Empath Training Program is where you can learn to become a Trained Empath.
Visualizations
Throughout this program, you will complete exercises designed to help you become a Functional Empath. Please keep in mind that I don't expect you to get overnight results. It took me years to learn how to do this. My goal is to give you shortcuts so that you can train your mind within a few weeks...
We'll often use visualizations in our exercises, sometimes in addition to more concrete actions. Visualizations are used by professional athletes to create a reflex within their physical body for a perfect execution when it's time to compete for real. It's like rehearsing in your mind. By holding a mental image of the result they want to achieve, they are triggering physical reflexes within their body to accomplish their goal.
Visualizations on what you want to achieve with your Empath skills will trigger reflexes within your own mind to actually get the job done, even if you have no idea how it's getting done. Just like walking: we don't think of all the muscle contractions needed when we get up. We just have a reflex that takes care of the execution.
Visualization is a two way process: You send requests to your mind (through mental images) and your mind sends you feedback (through mental images and emotions). So if you try to imagine something but you find it hard, you can't see it or you feel negative emotions, this is feedback from your mind telling you that something is not working right. DO NOT FORCE IT! Instead, I suggest you register for an Email Consultation and describe what happened so I can help you resolve what is slowing you down.
Exercise 1: Turn Down The Volume
You are constantly receiving magnetic information from everyone around you. Even on a good day, this can quickly get overwhelming. The first thing we need to do is make sure that you can filter out this information.
- Rate how you feel right now, from 1 (very bad) to 10 (very good).
- Close your eyes and imagine two volume dials in front of you that go from 0 to 10.
One says "Me" and the other says "Others". - Turn the "Me" dial to 10, and the "Other people" dial to 0.
- Remember: If it's hard to visualize this, your mind is giving you feedback that something is in the way! For now,
if you can only see the volume going down (but not all the way to 0), that's fine. At least it's getting better...Keep practicing!
PS:You can also register for an Email Session if you need one on one help with this exercise! - Now it's time to "listen" to your own inner voice which will help drown out everything else. For some people, this is hard. Either
their mind is zomming in all directions or all they hear is the loud voice of inner criticism (such as "Why am I such a weak or perturbed person").
In order to reconnect to your real inner voice, complete this sentence: "My name is [your name] and I like ..." and start making a mental list of all the things you like. It can be about anything (you hair color, your shoes, your latte in the morning, etc). The goal is to focus on thoughts that are exclusively about you. Get at least 5 items on your mental list.
PS: You can find this exercice
in the book "Empowered by Empathy" by Rose Rosetree.
- Take a breath to reboot your mind. It takes a moment for your brain to realize that things have changed and you're more centered on your own thoughts.
- Rate how you feel again. If it's going up, you're on the right track! Keep practicing!
- Before you try to use this in a crowded mall, make sure you practice in an easier environment!
Imagine right now that you are surrounded by people (or any other situation where you tend to feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable).
Can you feel better by turning down the volume???
My official motto is quite simple: If it feels better, keep doing it!
Back to Empath Management Topics
Home | Site Map | Support | Contact | Policies
Disclaimer: Elise Lebeau is not a licensed Mental Health care professional.
She does not offer diagnostic or treatment. If you have any questions about your mental health, please contact a licensed provider.
Thank you for respecting the copyrights of my work!
Copyright 2002-2008 Elise Lebeau