As a child, we’re totally connected with who we are. We live an authentic life; never questioning what our true purpose is. We simply know we’re on the right path.
We’re at the soul level; filled with the knowing of our own essence. There’s a beautiful innocence, a happy existence that’s playful, joyful and lives for the moment.
There’s no worries; work to do or bills to pay, and our imagination can run wild. We feel the wonder of the world and play in nature.
And if we’re an animal empath, we’re even more deeply connected to nature and animals. Not only do we not fear animals; we feel like we relate to them more than humans.
Our compassion for them is much greater than others, especially those that see animals as a tool for human use. After all, an animal’s pain is ours.
We might even try rescuing animals at a young age, and help them in any way we can. There’s a sense that we’re communicating with them on some level, and the connection we have with them is soul-to-soul.
Becoming Disconnected with Ourselves
Then real life happens. As time goes on, the sensitive animal empath feels the pain of others; not just animals, but people as well and the overall energy of the world, which can be toxic.
It becomes hard to process it all. And it’s even worse when we feel odd, weird or like we just don’t fit in.
After awhile, we can begin to feel the emotional weight, and sometimes the weight can physically manifest. All of the weight, may or may not be ours.
In the process, we become disconnected with who we really are. We’re no longer that child bathed in innocence, but we mature into someone that feels the ups and downs of the world, and the only way we know how to cope with it is to hang out with animals.
But the energy still needs to be healed and released. There also needs to be an appreciation for who we really are, and to be understood in a world where sensitivity is actually a superpower.
Unfortunately, no one tells us that. So we’re left with an awkward sense of self, and often a lack of self-love, which we humans need to survive in a harsh world.
My Own Experience
Animals take priority in my memory; a place where I cherish the moments with those sweet furry and feathered souls. When I was very young, I used to sneak tuna out to our barn to feed a stray cat, and my dog was my protector, companion and occasional baby sitter.
My mother tried to get me “out of my shell” by sending me to ballet and tap dancing lessons with other girls. I was also sent off to Girl Scout camp in an attempt to help me be more sociable with other children.
But the truth is; it didn’t work. Because when you’re an animal empath, that’s who you are at your core.
And the fact that my childhood became very turbulent (with an alcoholic father, and my mother who struggled with emotional eating and weight issues). Let’s just say it: There was trauma.
And when trauma is involved, the shock of it all is so great to an empath, who’s already sensitive the the outside world. The unhealed trauma can manifest in various ways, and for me there were times of emotional eating as well as being drawn into toxic relationships with narcissists (a not-so uncommon problem for empaths).
This happens because we empaths are so “feeling” of everyone and everything, and narcissists are detached from it all. Unfortunately, opposites attract and what starts out as a soulmate vibe, turns into a fatal attraction.
The repeating patterns I experienced required deep healing, which led me to healing arts school and working on myself as well as helping others. In turn, I discovered the power that we have as empaths, and that when we take our power back, it’s truly a gift to the world.
Where We Get Stuck
In addition to toxic relationships with narcissists, we can find ourselves:
- Becoming people pleasers to help others feel better (which also helps us to feel better).
- Burnout from our natural sensitivity, and not knowing how to create healthy boundaries.
- Losing our way around our purpose, which has gotten buried from all of the outside noise.
- And generally being disconnected from our amazing intuition, which is our superpower.
All of this and more, clouds our identity and burns us out. After all, how can we know who we are when we’re so absorbed in others, or feel mentally, emotionally or physically exhausted from everything?
Coming Home to Ourselves
The truth is we’re special souls, because we care deeply and feel so much. So, we need to honor that.
We must practice protection and self-preservation. Having healthy boundaries isn’t selfish, but how we survive in this noisy, and sometimes triggering world.
Filling our own cup in life so that it’s running over, and we’re serving others with the overflow is where we need to be. Because draining it will leave us powerless.
Appreciating that power for the beautiful thing that it is; is certainly a start. Peeling away the layers of trauma in a gentle and understanding way, and forgiving ourselves rather than blaming ourselves for the past is needed.
And above all, tapping into that awesome intuition we were born with, will take us in the direction of our soul’s true path. Then we can dive even deeper into learning to connect with our animals to help them, and to learn to be the amazing healer for ourselves and those around us.
Support for Your Sensitive Soul
Know that you’re not broken, and that getting support is not a weakness. As animal empaths, we’re used to the role of helping others (especially animals) and sometimes isolation. Although solitude can be healing as an escape from the outside noise, support from other sources is needed.
Allow yourself to accept the support in, so you can avoid burnout. For example: Instead of getting caught up in the stressful social media noise, put the phone down and read.
Articles in The Animal Empath Journal are one way to quiet your mind while protecting your heart, and receiving insight that supports your sensitivity. Also, find like-minded people who understand your love of animals and need to nurture.
Look at holistic ways of healing: Mind, body and soul, because you beautiful soul are not just a human being. (You’re truly special in a world of harshness.)
Above all, remember to love yourself and take care of your own needs BEFORE others. It’s not about being selfish, but about survival. And your happiness leads to the happiness of others.
Remember to take care of you and your heart. Today and always.
