Here is a list of the most common traits that empaths have:
Related article: Who Are Empaths and Highly Sensitive People?
- They perceive subtle details and nuances in their surroundings and notice the connections between certain situations or events that remain hidden from most people.
- They sense and experience the people and world around them intensely – both the good and the bad.
- When they enter a room, they automatically sense what is going on there (without first seeing the faces of the people in that room or hearing their conversations).
- The energetic quality of the space in which they spend a long time or perform certain activities plays an essential role for them.
- People confide in them quickly and easily, telling them about intimate, private, and “unusual” experiences that they’d not otherwise dare to share (even among close friends).
- As soon as they sense that someone is in pain, they automatically tend to help that person and are extremely focused on the needs of the people they’re dealing with.
- They’re more empathetic than average and are constantly careful not to hurt others.
- They tend to put their own needs behind those of their loved ones.
- They often feel that they’re somehow different and find it difficult to fit into the environment in which they live. Also, as children, they often feel lonely and misunderstood.
- They aren’t only quick to perceive the emotions of the people they deal with, but they also soak them up like a sponge, and sometimes other people’s emotions literally feel like their own.
- Sometimes they experience anxiety or a sudden drop in energy for no (known) reason.
- Towards others they’re attentive and considerate and have a deep understanding of their situation, while towards themselves they’re rather harsh and critical.
- They don’t feel relaxed when someone directly supervises or watches them while they’re doing something, and the time frame (especially if it’s short) creates stress and interferes with creativity.
- They often feel guilty (for no apparent reason) and feel they have to justify their existence.
- They love music and art; their inner life is extremely rich, multi-layered, and complex.
- They prefer “depth” and find that superficial relationships and gossip are a waste of time.
- They have a rich and very vivid imagination.
- They like to spend time in nature and feel very connected with it.
- They’re open to exploring spirituality and tend to have a direct relationship with the Universe/Source/God (without an intermediary).
- In romantic relationships, they often tend to idealistically assess potential partners and see their “unrealized potential” rather than the “real situation.”
- They generally feel resistance to violence (in reality and in movies and games), and frequent conflict tires them out and drains their energy.
- They dislike noise, loud parties, and staying in crowds for long periods of time.
- They find it difficult to express themselves in structures that function according to a strictly hierarchical system, in which the system is more important than the people and their needs.
- They often feel resistance to organized religions and cults.
- They tend to be non-competitive, although they like to be active and participate in different activities at their own pace.
- They find it difficult to say NO, stand up for themselves, and set firm boundaries when dealing with people who take a more aggressive approach.
- They’re often accompanied by the feeling of being “not good enough” – regardless of the actual situation and the degree of their competence or commitment – and try to compensate for this by making high demands on themselves and perfectionism.
- They’re systematic, “highly analytical,” and prone to “analysis-paralysis” states.
- As children, they were often ashamed of their high sensitivity.