tag:holidaymathis.com,2005:/blogs/what-is-an-empathWhat is an Empath?2017-12-02T12:57:57-06:00Holiday Mathisfalsetag:holidaymathis.com,2005:Post/49596732017-12-02T12:57:57-06:002017-12-02T12:57:57-06:00What is an Empath?<p>Once upon a Star Trek series, there was Next Generation character called Dianna Troi who was half-human, half-Betazoid, and who, through some gift of paranormal electronics, had the ability to sense emotions telepathically. Troi is credited for bringing the term “empath” to mainstream consciousness. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/244592/6e10063f2fd98de13bde1d136a5e2c4588f507c7/small/screen-shot-2017-12-02-at-12-23-02-pm.png" class="size_s justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>The term has since evolved to various meanings and connotations, some of them vaguely otherworldly with an inference that Empaths are part of a phenomenon of evolved spiritual beings meant to heal the planet with their gifts of augmented emotional IQ, compassion, observation and general sensitivity. </p>
<h4><em>In some internet circles “Empath” is thrown out as a sarcastic insult when someone is being extraordinarily self-centered and unsympathetic. </em></h4>
<p>Science fiction casts Empaths as characters who can feel the pain of the world, know the feelings of those at a great distance, or in some cases absorb the feelings of others parasitically to use for their own purposes. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/244592/7bb0963a74047a9204d0c27486accb6980807c95/small/screen-shot-2017-12-02-at-12-29-38-pm.png" class="size_s justify_center border_" />Increasingly, highly sensitive people are identifying as Empaths in a psychological and physiological terms. The human brain contains a specialized group of cells that enable people to mirror one another’s emotions. Evidence shows that these mirror neurons are more active and hyper-responsive in the brains of Empaths, a tendency that can be genetically passed on.</p>
<p>Do you think you might be an Empath? <a contents="Take this QUIZ and find out!&nbsp;" data-link-label="Are You an Empath?" data-link-type="page" href="/are-you-an-empath">Take this QUIZ and find out! </a></p>Holiday Mathis