As an empath myself, and having worked with many empathic people in my practice, I know that sometimes this time of year can be a little overwhelming.
If you are reading this, you probably have some traits of an empathic person. We are usually very kind, sensitive, compassionate and sometimes introverted. We want everyone to be happy, and easily pick up on the emotions of those around us, even if they are not aware of them. Empaths tend to be sensitive to external stimulation more than other people. We need time and space for ourselves to recharge and be our best. We like peace and harmony, and sometimes can become overwhelmed when there are too many things to do, or people to see.
These are wonderful gifts. Remembering this, and just taking some simple steps to take care of yourself during this season will help them shine for yourself and those in your life.
The holidays can bring up some challenges for empaths if we are not aware and taking great care of our energy systems. They can also be beautiful opportunities for more joy, internal growth, and connection with ourselves and the world around us!
Some easy ways to increase your fun and energy this time of year instead of feeling depleted and drained are:
1. Of course number one is taking care of yourself!
Self-care is always important for everyone. It’s even more important for empaths. It’s really more important for empaths during busier times like the holiday season! Finding ways to slow down and take time for yourself, even when you don’t feel you have time, is essential for maintaining and expanding your energetic system. This allows you to be your best for yourself and those in your life.
Some simple self-care practices that might help include:
- Making sure you schedule yourself and your self-care on your calendar just like everything else in your life. It is not optional!
- Scheduling a pedicure or massage in the middle of the workweek.
- Dropping the kids off with a babysitter or family member and taking some time to just sit by the fire and meditate, or have a glass of wine in the bath.
- Maybe buying yourself one of those lovely fuzzy blankets you are getting for Aunt Judy, wrapping yourself in it and reading a favorite book for an hour instead of something you think you “have” to do.
2. This is similar but not quite the same as number one. In order to have an energizing and fun holiday, it really helps to maintain the things you do the rest of the year that help you feel good. I’m mostly talking about exercise and nutrition, we’ll get to spiritual practice next.
- While it’s ok to take breaks, and for sure everything in moderation is ok, if your priority is to feel good, grounded and energized through this season and beyond, pay attention to your physical body and how you maintain it!
- You wouldn’t stop putting oil or gas in your car, watering your plants, or going to work in December. You know that these things need continual maintenance by you in order to continue to thrive. Your physical health is no different!
- Your soul and emotions are a lot happier when they are in alignment with your healthy physical body. This means, just do your best to keep fueling your body with healthy, alive, clean food as much as you can even during the holidays. It also means keep moving your body, its happy when it’s active!
Be super kind to yourself if you are not as consistent as usual, its ok! But just remember you want to feel good! These steps will help your sensitive empathic energy system be at its best, keep your stress low, and help your inner light glow super brightly all season long.
3. Empathic people usually love feeling a connection to the spiritual world. It helps us settle down and relax into the knowing that even if it feels overwhelming now, all is really always well and conspiring for our highest good.
The season, in truth, is all about spiritual connection. Whatever faith or spiritual practice that you resonate with, this is a time to connect with what fills you up with meaning, trust and joy.
This means, whatever you do for spiritual practice the rest of the year, don’t stop now! And if you don’t do anything the rest of the year to connect spiritually, it’s a good time to incorporate some simple practices into your days.
Whatever works for you to connect to the sense that you are guided and loved by something larger than yourself is ok. The feeling of trusting that the universe will support you, and that all is happening in order to increase your consciousness is always available to you. It’s always right there, waiting for you to take just a little time to connect to this beautiful flow of energy.
I encourage you to find some practices that work for you, here are a few to start with:
- Of course, meditate, meditate, meditate. There are many forms of meditation, find whatever works for you and dedicate some time to your practice. This helps reduce stress, feel more peaceful, and connect more deeply to your own internal guidance system.
To ensure that this is something you will look forward to, enjoy, and most importantly, practice consistently, it’s important to create some sacred space for yourself. While it’s also important to be able to practice meditation anywhere: I’ve literally meditated on a plane (super fun!) on the beach, in an airport, etc.…It’s also important to have a place in your home that you can dedicate to yourself, to build up the energy and feel more magnetically drawn there day after day.
One of the reasons I bought the house that I did is that I have a dedicated mediation room. There is a lovely fluffy rug, lots of pillows, an altar with meaningful spiritual objects to me, and lots of crystals. This room draws me back to it, it feels so comforting to return to myself there every day.
It’s also helpful to find a time in your schedule that allows you to really sink into the practice deeply and be consistent about it. Empaths need more time and space consistently to plug into this inner knowing in order to keep our systems running smoothly.
- Another way to connect spiritually this time of year is to read spiritually inspirational material for you. It can be the bible, Buddhist texts, an Eckhart Tolle book, or something else that you feel a deep resonance in your soul with.
Make it a priority to read or listen to something that inspires you, even if it’s just a little bite sized nugget every day. This acts as a reminder of what’s true for you. It gives you a little touchstone throughout the busy season to remind you of the bigger picture, that we are all beautiful beings of light.
- Empaths also need spiritual connection with other people, all the time, but it can feel especially good and necessary at this time of year.
Going to church or another spiritual or metaphysical gathering place can feel great. Connecting with spiritually aligned friends or other people in your life can also help feed this part of us. We may feel like being alone as empaths, but finding ways to connect with even a few people in our spiritual community is very important to keep us in alignment.
4. Let every single experience be an opportunity for spiritual growth, because it is!
Empaths really like to do inner work, so reminding yourself that life is all about learning so you can expand your consciousness can really help you stay in a high frequency place.
- How can the long line at the mall teach you about patience?
- Is your mother in law really annoying, or is there something your soul really wants to learn by being compassionate towards her?
- What if a feeling of being disappointed by a friend or loved one is just an opportunity to practice and deepen your own self love?
5. Taking care of your energy system with other people.
- For sure, only say yes to parties or gatherings that bring you joy. And yes you can still cancel even if you already said yes!
- When going to functions, whether with friends or family, doing some practices to elevate and expand your energy before you go and during the event will help you maintain your energy.
- On the way to the event, imagining yourself having an expansive, fun time and feeling energized. Imagining opening up through the crown of your head, and the soles of your feet. White light is pouring into your body from the heavens, and up through the earth through your feet.
- Imagining this white light all around you, and your aura expanding and glowing more brightly. Once you are there, continuing to keep your beautiful white light aura expansive, which allows you to glow, and any negative energy will just pass right through and not affect you at all.
6. Connect with joy!
Empaths tend to be a little serious sometimes. We care so deeply about everything that we can forget that life is about fun and joy! Finding ways to know what brings you joy and doing those things is super vital for a fun holiday for an empath.
- Take some time to get out of your head, and ask your intuition what will bring you joy. Slowing down, and paying attention to any thoughts, feelings or images that come up even if they sound ridiculous!
- Schedule some fun into your calendar! Whether it’s going salsa dancing, or skiing with your kids, or taking an improv class or scheduling a game night.
- Fun and joy is super important in keeping your energy elevated as an empath, which allows you to have the energy to do all the other things you are doing this time of year.
Embracing our empath superpower through some of these practices can help us feel more confident and calm through this time. We don’t need to hibernate the whole season (ok just a little bit sometimes!) We can shine our beautiful magical light all season long, we just need to do the maintenance required to keep our energy elevated.
Wishing you a magical holiday season!
Read more about Spiritual Counseling with Shana Olmstead.
Shana Olmstead, Intuitive Consultant
I see my life purpose as helping people to awaken to the truth of their divine nature, the powerful spiritual beings that they are. I have assisted hundreds of clients in my therapy practice to wake up to the understanding that we are all made of source energy, and are here to increase our consciousness and joy to help the evolution everyone on the planet. I am so excited and inspired to continue helping people through their own awakening! Contact me to schedule an appointment in person in Kirkland, Washington or for a phone or video consultation wherever you are located.
