self-care
The Empath’s Guide To Toxic Friendships
Our friends are a beautiful and enriching part of our lives. In some cases, they even become our chosen family through the bonds of mutual caring and shared life experiences.
Healthy friendships are built on a foundation of balance. They’re marked by mutual support, trust, loyalty, acceptance, and honesty, all with a touch of compassion. But for the empath or highly sensitive person, friendships can sometimes be a bit of a rollercoaster.
We might feel like we’re always giving and giving, and sometimes we might even feel drained. It can be hard to know when to draw the line with someone who might be taking advantage of our energy.
Friendships can be so many different things, and it’s important to remember that not all of them are the same. They range from casual acquaintances to deep, intimate bonds we form with those we call our “besties.”
It’s so important to have a close friend you can trust with your most private fears, dreams, and vulnerabilities. But, sadly, this isn’t always the reality. If you’re the kind of person who is sensitive to the feelings of others, you know how hard it can be when you’re betrayed or disappointed by someone close to you. It can feel like the saying “keep your enemies close” is true in these situations.
Some of us are more outgoing and have a large social circle, while others are more introverted and have a small social circle. Empaths can fall into either category. Regardless of which category an empath falls into, it is wise for us to exercise discernment.
Protect Your Energy From Toxic People
If you’ve ever felt emotionally drained, manipulated, or physically unwell after spending time with someone, know that you’re not alone. I do relationship readings for people stuck in toxic relationships, or dealing with energy vampires in their family or workplace, on a daily basis.
These relationships and people feed off your energy, often leaving you feeling depleted, anxious, or confused.
Why do so many people allow these people into their lives? Often, they simply have no choice. These toxic people may be family members, coworkers, in-laws, friends we’ve known for years, other relatives, or even life partners.
As a deeply empathic person myself, I understand the profound sensitivity that comes with feeling the energies around you.
Being surrounded by energy thieves can feel like standing in front of an emotional vacuum or caught inside a whirlwind of chaos. If you don’t prepare yourself energetically and spiritually before engaging with these types of individuals, your emotional and physical well-being will suffer.
It’s exhausting trying to maintain your peace in the presence of drama, manipulation, or constant criticism. Take for example family gatherings or in-law visits.
These moments can trigger a cascade of emotions due to clashing personalities, judgment, gossip, and unresolved history. It often feels like nothing you do is ever right, and it becomes a true test of inner strength.
Moving Forward After A Breakup Or Divorce
Going through a divorce, or the end of a long relationship, can feel like your world has come crashing down. The dreams you shared, the life you pictured together, and all the emotional energy you invested can suddenly seem lost.
It’s not just about losing a person; it’s also about letting go of a future you once hoped for. It can be difficult to know how to move forward.
However, even in the midst of any ending, there’s an opportunity for a fresh and meaningful new beginning.
Accepting that your relationship has ended is one of the most important steps in the healing process. It’s normal to grieve what could have been, but don’t dwell on the past. The past is a place to learn from, not a place to stay.
True acceptance means letting go of blame, resentment, and regret. This isn’t because the hurt didn’t happen, but because holding on keeps that hurt alive.
Acceptance can be difficult. It means accepting that your life will look different than you expected, and trusting that there’s still joy and beauty ahead. Many spiritual traditions remind us that everything happens for a reason, even if we don’t understand it right away. When we reach acceptance, our heart chakra can open again, releasing stuck emotions and making room for healing. Continue reading
Tell-Tale Signs You Are Being Gaslighted
You’re crazy, that never happened. Don’t be so sensitive. I’ve never had this problem with anyone else but you. It was never my idea, it was yours! Come on, you’re imagining things. Everyone else agrees, except you. You’re just making things up.
These are just some of the things you might hear when someone is gaslighting you. It usually happens whenever you confront them about their bad behavior, only to have your reality twisted in return…in ways that can really make your head spin!
Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse that most often shows up in toxic romantic relationships, but it can also manifest in dynamics with friends, coworkers, employers, family members, and even neighbors and landlords.
At its core, gaslighting is the manipulation of your sense of reality, leaving you confused, anxious, and doubting yourself and your own perceptions. Sometimes it’s very obvious and unmistakable. Other times, it happens so subtly you may not even realize you’re being manipulated.
The term “gaslighting” comes from the 1938 stage play Gas Light, which was later made into the 1944 film of the same name.
In the story, a husband tricks his wealthy wife into thinking she’s going crazy by making small changes to their surroundings, like dimming the gas lights, and then denying that anything has changed. His goal is to make her doubt her own sanity, so he could have her committed to a mental institution and gain control of her inheritance.
The Endangered Spiritual Wisdom Of The Prairie Dog
In Native American wisdom tradition, when a prairie dog crosses our path, it brings a sacred message of retreat. During times of stress and overexertion, this wise little creature reminds us to pause and step back from the chaos of modern life to recharge.
Prairie dogs often appear when we find ourselves in situations we’d rather avoid, encouraging us to disengage and reset. It teaches us to choose our battles carefully and not expend energy where it isn’t needed.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or spiritually disconnected, the prairie dog may be offering you a compassionate wake-up call.
Like this gentle guardian of the grasslands, you are invited to retreat to your own sacred space of stillness and safety, where you can restore your strength and clarity.
In nature, when the prairie dog senses danger, it instinctively retreats into its burrow, which is equipped with multiple escape routes. It doesn’t flee in panic, but rather responds with grounded wisdom and preparation.
In this way, prairie dog medicine teaches us how vital it is to create our own safe haven in life. We all need a place of inner peace, ritual, and refuge.
Paradoxically, the prairie dog also symbolizes the importance of reconnecting. If we become too withdrawn from our loved ones or isolated from community and nature, this magical creature encourages us to reach outward toward laughter, kinship, and shared purpose. It reminds us that solitude and social connection are not opposites, but rather part of a sacred rhythm.
You Create Your Own Happiness
Too often, people find themselves trapped in a shadowed corner of life, believing that happiness lies just beyond the next relationship, paycheck, job, or home. But true joy isn’t found in any of these external pursuits.
As the Dalai Lama so wisely said, “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” Pause for a moment and really reflect on that. It’s a beautifully simple truth, yet so many of us struggle to embrace it.
We’ve been raised in a world that teaches us to chase after happiness as though it’s something ‘out there,’ just one success or possession away. But here’s the sacred truth: happiness begins within.
This is a difficult statement for many to comprehend. “How can I be happy, if I have nothing? you might ask. “I am alone. I have no job, no money, no love.”
And yet, the answer is simple and profound: no one else is responsible for your life. No one else is responsible for your happiness. You are the sole creator of your reality.
Your emotional well-being, fulfillment, and general experience of life aren’t determined by outside forces, other people, circumstances, or luck. Living your best life starts with you.
Happiness isn’t something someone can give you or take away. What you think, believe, and do determines if you feel satisfied or unfulfilled.
Nurture Your Body To Boost Your Spirit
When we think of spiritual practices, we generally focus on activities like meditation, prayer, energy healing, or divination.
While these are all important, we sometimes overlook a crucial pillar of our spiritual groth and well-being: caring for our physical body.
The body that carries us through life is sacred. The familiar phrase, “My body is my temple,” contains a profound truth.
When we treat our body with love, intention, and reverence, it naturally supports the expansion of our spiritual awareness and soul evolution.
Our body is how we experience the world. It’s easy to overvalue the mind alone, but the brain is also part of the physical body.
Without nurturing our physical well-being, our cognitive and intuitive functions can falter. The clearer and more vital our physical state, the more clarity and depth we bring to every level of our consciousness.
At some point on our spiritual path, we are called to care deeply for our physical body. What this looks like varies from person to person. Of course, if you’re dealing with any health concerns, it’s essential to see a qualified healthcare provider.
However, you don’t need to overhaul your life to get started. You can start by attending to your physical wellness with simple changes like drinking more water, moving your body daily, limiting screen time, enjoying time in nature, and choosing nourishing foods.