The Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Empathic Ability

Originally Submitted on 7/10/97.

We all have the ability to be empathic. Empathy can be a great asset in your professional and personal life. Enjoy the process.

1. Check out your emotions.

Let them out and touch, feel, taste, smell and look at them. Some people only identify a few emotions (happy, sad or angry). There are many more. Get acquainted with your feelings.

2. Clear out your stuff, physically.

Clean out your garage, attic, closets, cupboards, bookcases, get rid of anything you don't use/need. We invest lots of energy hanging on to things from the past. It's time to let go and free up that energy for something better. If you are a major pack rat, get someone to help(they won't have emotional ties to your stuff).

3. Clear out your stuff, emotionally.

Get rebirthed, get a coach, clean up your tolerations, get a therapist. All those emotions that were never fully experienced, take energy to keep stuffed. There are lots of emotional release techniques, use them.

4. Clear out your stuff, mentally.

We accumulate beliefs throughout our whole lives. Many of our beliefs stem from childhood, the media, family, and friends. Some are contradictory, some are wrong., some will shock you. Make friends with your subconscious, because (to paraphrase a Prego commercial) "They're in there". Use NLP, hypnosis, affirmations to select the beliefs you choose to live with daily.

5. Learn to ground yourself.

If you spend most of your life in your head, grounding will help bring you back into your body. If you already spend most of your time in your body, grounding will be like adding a great big battery backup. Walk barefoot in the grass, wade in water, even a shower can help ground you.

6. Spend at least 20 minutes a day alone.

Find the time everyday to contemplate, meditate or pray. The can be the most valuable gift you give yourself. Get to know yourself.

7. Breathe!!!!

Oxygen is life. Breathe it in. When we feel strong emotions, we tend to hold our breaths. Don't! Take a great big breath or ten. It'll help you move through the fear, anger or pleasure. Just wait till you find out what's on the other side ;-)

8. Exercise.

I know, you've heard it before. But exercise really does help you handle emotions more easily and it'll make you feel good in the process. Scientists tell us it's all those lovely brain chemicals. Get some and it'll be much easier to deal with whatever emotions come into your life.

9. Get in The Zone.

Barry Sears, Ph.D. has written 2 books on the zone. Enter the Zone explains why it works. Mastering the Zone tells you how to get there and has lots of recipes. It will make a big difference in how you feel everyday.

10. Notice how someone else is feeling.

As you empty out the stuff you've been carrying around, you'll have the space to experience how someone else is feeling. As you understand another better, you can improve your connection in relationships, understand your customers better and provide what they really need, and show more compassion and understanding to yourself and others.

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