I am an empath. Some of you might wonder what that means exactly. It can mean several things, but for me, it mostly means that I have heightened sensitivities to other people's emotions and physical symptoms. Like some other empaths, I occasionally take on some of these negative feelings and maladies, whether it is intentional or not. I am also keenly intuitive and listen to my gut feelings a lot. (Now whether I act appropriately or inappropriately is another story.) So today while I was sitting with myself in quiet contemplation I thought about my "gift" and wished that all politicians could have my empathic gift for just one day.
The obvious comical first choice would be for President Trump to get a taste of what it is like to be a tired and over-worked, over-taxed, middle-aged woman who is slightly overweight and menopausal. But in all seriousness, if politicians could feel what the people on the receiving end of their political decisions feel, maybe it wouldn't be so easy to make some of these bonehead proposals. Let's take a look at some of the traits attributed to empaths in a piece I found on PsychologyToday.com (For the complete list see the article "10 Traits of Empathic People") and see if you agree that my wish should be fulfilled.
Empaths are highly sensitive.
Empaths are naturally giving, spiritually open, and good listeners.
If you want heart, empaths have got it. Through thick and thin, these
world-class nurturers will be there for you. But they can easily have
their feelings hurt, too: Empaths are often told that they are “too
sensitive” and need to "toughen up."
Our empathic politicians would hear all Americans, not just the folks who voted for them or made big donations to their campaigns. The right-winger would feel how the gay couple feels when the law does not accept their marriage as legal. The liberal would see how welfare is being abused by some folks. Walk a mile in the other guy's shoes before you judge.
Empaths absorb other people’s emotions.
Empaths are highly attuned to other people’s moods, good and bad.
They feel everything, sometimes to an extreme. They take on negativity
such as anger or anxiety, which can be exhausting for them. If they are around peace and love, though, their bodies take these on and flourish.
During the election I found that I had to limit myself to essential politics. I watched the debates and I read the rest of my news to distance myself from all the negativity. It was during this time that I found a great appreciation for HGTV. I heard that they did not allow political ads and who doesn't love Fixer Upper? Gerry Smith penned an article about HGTV ad costs and found that their fees were almost twice what other cable channels charged and their average viewer was a college-educated, suburban woman with a household income of $83,600 annually, with an interest in home improvement. So apparently no ads were wasted on my demographic!
What if our empath politicians could feel all that negativity directed at them? Feel anxiety like the elderly person on a pension feels when they realize they cannot afford their medications. Feel the revulsion and pain a rape victim feels when they hear their leader say he just grabs pussy. See how angry the middle class folks feel when they hear more taxes for them while the wealthy get more breaks? Feel the hunger of a child who depended on assistance for their meals. The positive on this would be that they could feel all that love and admiration when they did something great for the country.
Empaths are targets for energy vampires.
An empath’s sensitivity makes them particularly easy marks for energy vampires, whose fear
or rage can sap their energy and peace of mind. These vampires may do
more than drain an empath’s physical energy. Especially dangerous ones
such as narcissists (who lack empathy and are only concerned with
themselves) can make empaths believe they’re unworthy and unlovable.
Our empath politicians would feel how worn out this country is and know how many people feel that their government does not care about them. Equally draining would be feeling their voter's fear of change amidst hopeful support--the feeling of being pulled apart from multiple directions.
Being an empath is viewed as both a curse and a blessing. You feel the awesome highs and the disturbing lows.
....I figure 24 hours of it should be enough to scare the shit out of them.
