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Blanchefleur·Oct 26, 2022

Posted in:Health & Wellness Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lifestyle Personal Growth Resources

Empaths, or highly sensitive people or as i call them people who are aware of what is going in themselves and around them. They are very creative and smart people on many levels.

Highly sensitive people feel when something is off, or know that something can work better just in a way that you didn't think about it before. They are very creative. In a world where everything needs to been explained rational, that is a hard point for a lot empath, not all of them. Because they can’t always explain in the first place why something is off or work better in a different way. They just know. This is because they move through awareness process. This means there is a lot happening behind the scenes, it means in their consciousness an unconsciousness level.

I try to explain it a bit. You work on a project you are going in your creative box to think for a idee, when the deadline is, how it should play out etc. The Most the people are going into there brain to think for a creative idee. But an empath goes to the creative unconsciousness level of and explores there. That goes beyond the mind. And their pops something up where you couldn’t think of it with your brain.

Most highly sensitive persons can explain the process after they it is done or on the way, because they move through the awareness process. So, they go much deeper in exploring things.

My question is to you is; How much room is there on the work floor as an empath or highly sensitive person to work with your own empathic or awareness power on healthy way, without getting drained or being exploited? Is sensitivity in the workplace integrated or does it still something weird?

Let me know.....

Jacki201·Oct 27, 2022

Fellow empath! My colleagues say I’m a holistic thinker and creative problem solver, but I think the strengths my empath brain brings are:1) I think about things from all angles, the human and non-human angles. I ripple a thought through my brain and start anticipating every potential outcome and conversation with stakeholders. It happens quickly, but sometimes I need independent time to sit with larger projects or problems. Idea generation and data analysis/inputs both come easy to me.2) My instincts are most in tune with energy. Reading a room is very easy for me.So now the weaknesses from my empath brain:1) The energy thing mentioned above is a strength and weakness. Because I’m sensitive to energy and my brain is constantly processing out how others may react based on their energy, being around others isn’t always a comfortable experience and I sometimes over-analyze and cater to the emotions of others more than I should.2) I’ve had to learn how to detach my perception of myself from my sensitivity and awareness of others feelings.3) Sometimes things bother me that on the surface and even in the grand scheme of things are relatively small. I’ve had to coach myself to be less penetrable by the emotions and energy of others, so that it doesn’t impact my mood as much.4) When someone is having a bad day, I can always tell, and when I was younger I would internalize it and think they were mad at me. I’ve grown in my awareness of the world and don’t do this nearly as often anymore.I think one of my coping mechanisms to being an empath is that I place high value on facts and being factual. I do research, put whatever data is available that I can behind my recommendations and decisions, but my super-power of empathy and holistic thinking allows me to be a strong decision maker even when very little data is available to me. My gut almost never fails me, and I know I can trust myself.So to your question about empaths in the workplace. I’m highly regarded by my colleagues and have had great career success in my field so far. I have achieved leadership roles at young ages and have increased responsibility in every role I’ve been in, because I’m someone my boss can trust to do the job to high standards, to care, and to think about it holistically.

Blanchefleur·Oct 27, 2022

Hi Jacki201, Thank you for answer my question. There are not many workplaces where sensitive people are highe value, because they don't understand it(yet). Most people are bit scared. They sense there is something 'different' about you, and that scares them. Looks you are really learn on the way to use your super-power of empathy. I totally understand that it is a great power and sometimes it can't be easy. I don't talk about a weakness point of sensitivity, more as a growing point where you needed to learn how to use your sensitivity power. O yeah, the constant brain activity, well what helps is grouding yourself good. Then your brain activity will balance out.Have great day, or evening depends on where you live in the world.

Ronnie44·Oct 28, 2022

Plenty once they learn to understand themselves, their limits, boundaries & stay consistent in putting these in place (this is a self-responsibility thing). Otherwise they get stuck in a cycle of success > exploit > burnout, unfortunately of their own doing until they wake up to it (and also why they don't get the same level of respect). With great power comes great responsibility :)

Ronnie44·Oct 28, 2022

Also spoiler alert - many (not all) of these people tend to be undiagnosed neurodiverse

Jacki201·Oct 29, 2022

As an empath who has found it to be something that has been a foundation of success in my career, I will say, boundaries are a big thing for me. I experienced fast success early on in my career, followed by burnout, promised myself I would never put myself in a position of burnout again and knew it was my responsibility to make sure I followed through on that promise. I now operate with firm boundaries, and as a leader I prioritize and regularly discuss the topic of keeping workloads sustainable, and while I’m happy to provide thoughts and data I am not in the business of solving other people’s problems. I keep my hands in my own cookie jar and leave others to theirs, and focus on doing my responsibilities to high standards. I’m an empathetic leader to my team, but I set boundaries against having personal friendships in the workplace. My life is fulfilled enough outside of work and being a sensitive person it’s best for me to have clean lines between my professional and personal life.

Blanchefleur·Oct 28, 2022

Thank you for answer my question. Yup with great power comes great responsibility. And self-resposibility is important yes.