A STRUCTURE BUILT ON TOP OF SOMETHING ELSE ...

I was walking past my sleeping Mac one afternoon, and the work Superstructure scrolled across the display screen.

What an interesting word, and definition.

And it occurred to me right then and there, that a superstructure is exactly what every Empath needs.

As am Empath, we often spend our days dealing with energy and related physical symptoms because we don’t have a supportive, firm structure in place to keep us at our best. Perhaps we wake up one morning and are sobbing uncontrollably, yet nothing in our own life would cause such a deep reaction.

Our first thought is often “What is wrong with me? I shouldn’t be feeling this …” This thought starts the worry, the panic, and the weakening of our energy.  We may spend hours, the day or more trying to figure out what is going on, and often don’t look at ourselves very lovingly in the process. It’s downright hard to go through a confusing experience like this.

Yet, as we learn to know how we take in information as the Amazing Empath we are, perhaps a better initial thought would be one of curiosity “What am I picking up on? Let me explore this more. Is someone around me disowning his sadness? Did something just happen to a close friend and I am picking up on her feelings? How are the planets aligned right now? Hmmm, I’m curious about this feeling.”

With this approach, we are able to step back from being overwhelmed with sadness and the feelings we are experiencing. Then we have the opportunity to remove the judgement of ourselves, accept the information we’re getting, and see what it means for our day.

Since being an empath provides us with more information than the average Joe, not only do we pick up on extra information others don’t even experience, we also take in this information more deeply. Recent research shows that our brains light up more than that average Josephine.

And information is power. We can be at an advantage as we walk through our life on this planet if we learn how to embrace and empower this information.

Yet if we don’t have a strong system in place to manage all the information we’re getting in a positive and proactive way, it can leave us feeling worried, exhausted, hungry, overwhelmed, and depleted. How do we begin to create a superstructure of support for ourselves?

This is not an easy question because it is unique to every Empath. Just as the genes that make up our DNA provide us with a uniqueness, so do our sensitivities. Yet, I believe, first and foremost, each Empath must acknowledge her or his sensitivity and OWN IT. We must be able to see that we are sensitive, love it, and begin to understand it for the power that it is. It’s a power, not a curse.Yes, it is a power, not a curse.

I think being an empath and highly sensitive person starts here - with owning who we are - in a loving way. It’s often hard to love ourselves when we are feeling so overwhelmed and zinged around by life. We are ashamed to be an empath. Yet acceptance is the biggest first step we must take.

For the first part of my life, I thought something was terribly wrong with me, in fact, just about evil. I knew I was sensitive, and I had often heard those words in a critical tone. I wished I was different. And I was getting zinged around by all the information I received.

I had anxiety attacks in my 20’s. When I graduated from college, I knew it was from being in an ungrounded body during that transition. But other times, I wasn’t sure what brought them on.

I reacted to medication more easily – throwing up my daily vitamins if I took them on an empty stomach or getting dry heaves from antibiotics. I got high blood pressure readings at the doctor’s office. I often didn’t sleep well at night - noise really bothered me, yet I’d have amazing intuitive dreams that I knew contained spot on information. I got overstimulated easily not only from sugar and caffeine, but also other people. I could get so wired at a party, even when I was having a fabulous time, it could take me hours to calm down, or I’d spend the next day in bed wrestling with a strong headache and tons of anxiety adrenaline.

I’m talking in the past tense here, but I now deal with these sensitivities in a positive and proactive way. I've learned how to ground my body through my daily routines so that I can stay centered.

For example, I still don’t take vitamins on an empty stomach because that would be just plain stupid. Owning and supporting my sensitivity means I don’t do that – I’ve accepted that I’m sensitive in that way, and now that is okay with me.

I still get high BP readings at the doctor, especially with a new doctor, but not at my biofeedback nurse’s office where I am truly relaxed and centered. I rely more on the information from my biofeedback nurse because it’s a more accurate read of a resting blood pressure. I’ve learned to set up my health care in ways that work better for me.

I’ve made a commitment to nutrition and nourishment that strongly supports my body and mind. This is my superstructure on top of my intuitive foundation.

As empaths and sensitive people, we need to set a routine and structure in place that supports us and our bodies – this is what I mean by a superstructure. It’s that part of us – our day-to-day structure – that is built on top of our intuition and sensitivity.

Our superstructure acknowledges our core, our deepest part of ourselves, and rests on it. This structure supports and protects us in our day-to-day lives and enables us to truly thrive as an empath. We are no longer zinged around by others’ emotions, energy, or the moon and the stars. We are solid in ourselves, embracing our Empathic nature, and reaping the rewards of all it has to offer. 

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