Empaths & Introverts
Being Empathic makes you highly sensitive to the energy around you which naturally tends to make you withdraw socially. Introverts are often associated with being antisocial.
I have a theory that being Empathic causes introverted characteristics.
I created a few polls in some spiritual communities where people identify as Empathic to test my theory.
Unfortunately, instead of identifying as either introverted or extroverted most people said they were somewhere in between.
DOH!
One person claimed to be an extroverted introvert. I suspect this is because there are many misconceptions about being introverted or extroverted. Introverts have friends too! We like to see people, sometimes.
It's not all or nothing! It's about what energizes you.
Extroverts get energized from other people. They tend to shut down when they are alone.
Introverts get energized by being being alone. They get drained being with other people, which is the epitome of being an Empath.
I want to know the correlation.
- Does being introverted lend itself to developing Empathic abilities?
- Or is it the other way around, Empathic abilities cause introversion?
- Are all introverts Empaths?
- Is it even possible for an extrovert to be Empathic?
I wish there were studies.
Personally, I think because introverts are naturally introspective, they are more observant than extroverts. Being observant makes it easier to pick up on little cues that may be going on with others, for example, knowing when something is wrong.
I'd consider many of the extroverts I know to oblivious to others rather than observant. For example, they seem to have absolutely no clue when it's time to call it a day because they've drained you of all your energy. They're just ready to go on to the next activity.
In fact, most extroverts I know are completely clueless to the needs of their introvert counterparts. They don't seem to understand us at all. Being an introvert is not something we need to overcome. Our energy levels are not the same as there's. We're not sick! We just operate inversely.
Isn't this a complete lack of empathy all together?
Whereas, introverts know we are going to be making a sacrifice to hang out with an extrovert and what it entails. We also know when extroverts are trying to stay busy running around planning endless activities in order to avoid feeling negative emotions. We can appreciate that and sometimes we're willing to help you out with that.
Myth: Introverts are Shy
I hate when people think I'm shy! Being quiet and being shy are two different things. No one who knows me would say that I'm shy.
The only feedback I ever received from any of my teachers growing up was that I was too quiet. Well maybe because I was in constant shell-shock being in a classroom.
Being around so many people causes sensory overload and shuts us down. We're highly affected by background noise. We have to exert a tremendous amount of energy to block it out.
I am usually pretty quiet around those I sense have dominant or intense energy. I don't want to exert my own energy to overcome there's or let them have any of mine.
Or maybe I was too quite because I was observing. When we're quiet we're usually processing energy, collecting data, and making calculated decisions.
Myth: Introverts are Loners
While we do get energized by being alone, we actually do like to hang out with friends. People we know and want to hang out with.
We aren't going to be up to just hang out with anyone we happen to have commonalities with i.e. co-workers, family, classmates, neighbors, etc. Extroverts consider a stranger just a friend they haven't met yet. The more the merrier. Any and all are welcome.
Introverts like close connections. We have high standards. We know people's intentions. We want to hang out with people that actually want to hang out with us personally, not just someone/anyone to do something with. We don't like one sided friendships. We don't want to hang out with people when it's only convenient for them.
We want real connection.
I've always picked out the people I wanted to be friends with before ever even speaking to them. I can read/feel their energy and know if they are somebody I want to be around.
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