Are You an Empath? Empath Quiz: Am I an Empath?
You may have heard the phrase, “I’m an empath,” once or twice in the metaphysical community, but what does it actually mean to be an empath? The term “empath” is derived from the word “empathy.” Identifying the difference between sympathy and empathy is a good place to start when determining what it means to be an empath.
In simple terms, sympathy is the recognition of the emotional plights of others, while empathy is the understanding of the emotions of others. The primary difference between sympathy and empathy comes down to perspective. Sympathy is recognizing the emotional plights of others from your own point of view. Empathy, on the other hand, is understanding the emotions of others from their point of view, often by placing yourself in their shoes.
When someone is sympathetic, they may feel sorrow, concern, pity, or care for another person’s experience, even if they cannot relate to what the person is feeling. When someone is empathetic, they are able to emotionally relate to what the other person is feeling, even if they have not undergone the same experience. And whereas sympathy is largely evoked by difficulty, empathy is a feeling that extends to positive emotions as well. Empathy is very powerful because it can create connection, provide support, and allow someone to feel deeply understood.
An empath is someone with an exceptional empathic capability that makes them highly sensitive to the emotions and energy of others. Empaths do not only understand the emotions of others, but often feel those emotions themselves. Essentially, empaths are emotional sponges soaking up the energy they are around.
So, now that you know a little more about what it means to be an empath, how do you know if you are one? Take our quiz to see how you relate to some of the common experiences many empaths share.
For each question, keep track of how many times you answer A, B, or C.
1. Empaths tend to naturally take other people’s perspective into consideration. Is it easy for you to imagine the perspectives, motivations, and intentions of others?
a. Yes, I often do this instinctually.
b. I try to. Sometimes it requires a conscious effort.
c. No, it requires conscious effort or has to be brought to my attention.