Lover Empath – Chapter 16 (v)

Getting to know yourself as an empath is strengthened when you have a deeper understanding of the ebb and flow of your feelings. Tracking your moods on a regular basis and taking note of what might trigger a change in your temperament can be extremely insightful.

Knowing what leads to certain reactions, whether that is in your body, thought processes or behaviors can strengthen how you interact with the world. You can come to know what types of people or situations to avoid or how to best prepare for potentially unavoidable or challenging scenarios.

Here are some techniques you can use to understand yourself:

1. Get inspired by others

Look to your favorite shows or books for characters that inspire you. Engaging with content allows you to understand people better, which in turn allows you to understand yourself. Notice which traits you already possess that these characters also have and which ones you want to develop more of.

If the character is mythic or fantasy-oriented, try to suss out the ways, in particular, you can harness the theme or essence of their abilities into your actual persona. Understand what types of characteristics you are drawn towards, and on an even deeper level, which stories you are trying to play out through your own self-identity.

2. Talk it out

Your archetype is one that is drawn towards counseling and the self-reflective space that many forms of talk therapy provide. Being able to hash out and relay details of your experience to an objective party allows you to work through things verbally. You tend to gain clarity as soon as you hear yourself say things out loud. Alternatively, you can talk with a close friend or someone you trust so as to have someone help echo back to you details or a synopsis of your situation for increased clarity.

3. Make a collage

Finally, get creative when you have mood swings! If you are having a particularly weepy day or feeling confused, sad, angry, or a combination of these things, consider settling into some crafting. Make a collage using images that are currently speaking to you. You can cut up old magazines, calendars, postcards, letters, or photos to compose a picture of what you are feeling. When you are done, analyze the piece.

Notice the vibe of what pictures you were drawn to use and the shape of the edges you cut into the photos.

The way the images are pieced together can tell you something about what you are feeling. If they are smooth or jagged, your subconscious may be illustrating to you a deeper experience that you need to recognize is taking place. The process of art, especially when you are feeling emotionally vulnerable, can help bring the unconscious into your conscious awareness.