Feeling other people's pain

Empathy is really the opposite of spiritual meanness. It’s the capacity to understand that every war is both won and lost. And that someone else’s pain is as meaningful as our own. 

~ Barbara Kingsolver

One day, decades ago, at my dorm at school, I found one of my classmates fast asleep on the couch. She looked so relaxed and peaceful. 

I remember thinking I had never felt such peace. I aspired to get there someday.

I was plagued with nightmares and secretly afraid of the dark. 

Although I was unfamiliar with what constituted psychic ability, from a young age, I was able to feel the emotions and energy of others. 

I could see through the masks that people wore. 

Psychic empathy plagued me, at times, as I felt other people’s pain. 

A teacher once told me that I appeared to be carrying a heavy load on my shoulders.

Feeling ashamed, after mentioning this to a loved one who then called me Emo, I learned to say nothing and to suppress my inner knowing or clairsentience. I suspect we are all born with psychic powers but learn to suppress them over time.

Reflecting, I have a better understanding of why, when my parents hosted gatherings at home, occasionally, I found myself hiding under the bed.

Closing thoughts

Sleep is the best meditation.

~ Dalai Lama

Today, my range of emotions is very narrow. I learned to wear a smile on my face and to fake it till I make it. 

On a positive note, thankfully, I have never been diagnosed or medicated for any mental health condition. My demeanour is calm and generally non-reactive. 

I keep a gratitude journal, and challenging as it can be, given my busy mind, I practice meditation. 

If I awaken in the middle of the night, I do Yoga Nidra, otherwise known as None Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR).

For these reasons, I find myself at peace even amid geopolitical uncertainty. I accept what is and reframe challenges as opportunities, most of the time. 

Empathy is a blessing when we feel compassion for the misguided. When we open our hearts we can bring out the best in people.