Empath Thinking Style

The collective of all acquired knowledge, from books, opinions, and accumulated life experiences, is called belief. Ego interacts with the world according to, and in strict accordance with, each individual’s belief. Most depend on knowledge to function, but not emotionals, like Empath.

Empaths walk against the prevailing wind, in terms of thinking style.

They funnel all of life through their emotional “thought” filter, which empties directly into their emotional “expression” beaker. There, truth tests are conducted and appropriate feeling/thinking instructions are attached, before being relayed back and acted upon by emotions. Emotions package truth and deliver it to mind; and at that point, things can go very wrong for Empath.

Knowledge is redundant for Empath. For them, all that’s evolutionarily known, from time’s beginning to now is on tap in soul, expressed through intuition, and acted upon by emotions. Every bit and bite, every synaptic skip, scratch, or squiggle of knowledge, is stored in soul. Why the redundancy and why the need for the duplication of belief?

Emotion-intelligence is emotion-born. Mind intelligence is book, opinion, and experience acquired. Emotions are never the same twice, thus creativity, perceptions, and solution possibilities, are infinite in range and scope. Belief, on the other hand, is concrete-constant and can be retrieved and regurgitated in the exact form as originally experienced and stored. Emotion is far more efficient and much quicker than belief, but its arrow-straight path to solution can confound others and conflict with a logic-bound, prove-it-first world. Their ego has been bashed and bruised so often, they tend to unnecessarily complicate things. Like salmon swimming against the current, Empath swims against their nature. They doubt and deny their emotions, and try to be logical instead.

In this conversation, Visionary is talking directly to Empath. Few understand Empath as well as Visionary; though few are as intolerant of Empath’s denial of self and shirk of responsibility, as them either. Others may not understand all within these pages, or within this personality style, but Visionarys and Empaths will. The gap between the two is as wide and broad, as non-trust can stretch. Understanding closes gaps rather quickly, and that’s the reason for this style-to-style conversation.

When you know answers, but cannot explain how, cannibalistic self-doubt can prey on confidence; unless ego is strong enough to ward it off. From infancy, purely emotional Empath “senses” the world around them. They feel so intensely about everything, others can be confused by the depth and range of their responses - from uncontrollable laughter, to inconsolable tears; sometimes both at once. For others it can be disconcerting, but emotion IS this personality style.

All their lives they’ll experience intense, unpredictable, and inexplicable feelings. Moody, others may call them, for Empath responds quickly to their environment. They laugh readily, at drop of amusement’s hat, and as readily cry when shown kindness or faced with anger - whether they’re bearer or recipient. Too often, they’re told to “buck up…stop blubbering,” which, for these sentient beings, is like denying the cat its whiskers. Emotions are at seat of Empath power, and the throne upon which their fine intellect sits.

To compare emotion-intellect and logic, let’s play the child’s game of “Concentration.”

For the game, a deck of cards is dealt face-down on the table. The objective is to match cards in paired sets. Each player, in-turn, randomly selects two cards and turns them face-upwards. If the cards pair-match, the player takes possession of the cards by removing them from the table. The player continues, until they fail to make a match. Unmatched cards are flipped over, and next player takes a turn. The game ends when all cards are matched. The one with the most matched pairs is the winner.

Most players use logical thinking; Empath uses intuition. Others would match by memorizing card positions or by chance of luck. Empath would match cards by emotionally sensing: then, more frequently pairing, than those depending on logic and luck. Depending on their degree of self-trust, if Empath were the first player, others may not get a chance to play at all. Confident Empath can potentially clear the table. Emotion-intellect is a power that Empath is often unaware of, or deeply mistrusts. Such ignorance or fear can have them riding in back seats through life, when front seats are their more rightful place. If such omniscient-like potential exists, why the self-doubt?

With bright smiling faces and eyes set on gold stars, early school experiences show Empath to be a very bright student. Striving to please, they reveled in earning praise and reward. Delight changed to distress, when math became more complex and science more complicated. With diminishing self-confidence, Empath realized their core functioning differed from others’. Emotion-intelligence, in higher learning, can have betraying consequences. With heartfelt eagerness, Empaths proudly offered answers as before, but suddenly, answers weren’t enough. They had to be explained and proven, as well.

To understand their heart and confidence-shaking confusion, imagine a decision-making tree. The trunk represents the problem, branches represent solution paths possible, and one of the innumerable branch tips contains the right solution. Empath senses or feels the correct “solution” branch tip, but proof demands a step-by-step explanation. Struggling to provide the proof that pleases and wins, Empath grasps trunk, branches, and branch tips all at once. Juggling the entire tree, they’re afraid of letting go of any part that may eliminate their chances of proving the solution later. With so many branches and branch tips available, Empath understandably gets bogged down in details. Essentially, they understand the problem and know it’s solution, but get confused and lost on the proof-path between them. Others may perceive them as slow decision-makers; explaining is what causes their delay. Empath may take seven seconds to feel-find answers, but need seven days more to first convince themselves it’s a good or right answer, and to formulate an explanation that logicals will understand and can accept.

Linear-thinking, a process light years behind emotion-intellect, must be taught to Empaths. Gold stars of former glory grades, often turn into good grief by junior high. This is usually when their academic fame wilts and their self-esteem withers noticeably. (One of the first signs of an unconfident Empath is weight gain). They first question intuition…then intellect…then themselves. When self-doubt comes into play, Empath is easier to bruise than a banana. Self-doubt can clip their wings of confidence, before they even attempt flight and test, for themselves, the advantages and superiority of emotion-intellect.

Overcoming self-doubt is a two-step process for Empaths. Place trust in your emotional wisdom; it is truth and self-truth is always and most, right for you. Take control and regain self-confidence, by learning “logical’s” language, and their manner of being and doing. The rules of the world, (in past, now, and future) are determined by majority vote. Guess what? Logicals rule! As an emotion-intellect, Empath is a minority. To excel, they must become familiar, then proficient, with the prevailing order and rules; and proficient in the skills that are understood and practiced by the linear, logical thinking majority. Skills, such as: memorization, organization, and hierarchical problem-solving, are not only daily, but success essentials. Empath generally chooses EITHER/OR assimilation.

EITHER… They are spurred into gritted action and bury themselves in studied concentration, to learn how to deliver the proof others need. By functioning in Jeopardy Game[TM] fashion, using innate emotion-intellect, they learn to trace a path backwards, from the branch tip of solution, to the trunk-of-tree problem. Once done, they can immediately chop, haul, and torch, what’s unnecessary. As confidence grows, the clutch and hold-all fear lessens. It becomes easier to pare away, then trash and burn the irrelevant. Trusting emotion-intellect to find the correct solution, and then applying more simple logic, to follow the path back to the problem’s beginning (the proof that logicals require), can make all the difference in terms of confidence. Notice the difference in problem solving, between logicals (knowledge-intellects) and Empath. Logicals start from the problem and hunt for solution. Empath, (emotion-intellects) starts at solution, then retraces the steps backward to problem. Which approach do you think is more efficient and advantageous short-term, long-term, personally, and professionally? Empath is distinctly advantaged. Agree?

OR… Empath can be rendered immobile, by academic self-doubt, and may make the mistake of turning their back on academic pursuits. Regardless, even those who avoided the grindstone are respectfully common on lists of nobel laureates, artists of music, painting or theatre, and are particularly predominant among teachers (educators). So, even if academia is not the preferred route, making the honour roll in life is seemingly inevitable - once Empath overcomes self-doubt. Then, creativity, that doubt’s been smothered and choked, is free to fly as far as dream, desire, and determination, dares and desires. Learning to trust self implicitly, and not being intimidated by demands to prove or explain, can be a lifelong challenge for these individuals.

Mentioned above, is one of Empaths greatest talents: an in-born ability to teach. Their purpose seems providential - to teach others “to love one another.” The world is a better, smarter, and happier place, when Empath mounts the lectern. Their characteristic people-patience is one factor, but it’s their emotion-intelligence that tips the ability scale in their favour. From fifty paces, from look of group, from glint in individual eye, can they sense prevailing conditions, and modulate their tone, tempo, and content, to match and meet. When a student raves about an exciting lecturer, chances are, Empath heads that classroom. Generally speaking, this is not an assertive nor charismatic style. Yet, when Empaths teach, they come alive. They tend to be dynamic, even mesmerizing speakers, and have little trouble holding the group’s attention. It would be rare for Empath to be caught unprepared, for their scheduled lecture or lesson. These individuals are conscientious, responsible, and reliable.

Empaths tend to be happy souls; providing their reward needs are met. (Their needs are few, and of the type money can’t buy). They may not be the comedic performers at centre stage, but they’re an appreciative and easily-pleased audience. One of their most endearing qualities is their willingness to laugh at themselves. Being mocked or good-naturedly teased, is high amusement for them. This is the personality style of infinite emotion-variety and depth. When their fancy is tickled sufficiently, these are the ones who can and do “wet their pants” laughing. No other laughs with such unbridled joy, as Empath. And actually, poking fun at them is not hard to do; Empath is nothing, if not interesting. Take their innate need to help others, for instance. Making others feel good, makes them feel gooder. Tell an Empath you’ve a problem that stumps, and before eye’s blink, they’ll blizzard possibilities. Tell an Empath you’re feeling a bit down on yourself, and before next sigh’s escape, they’ll provide reasons to admire self anew. Tell an Empath you can’t understand, and they’ll snug time and mind with yours, to enlighten.

Others grow accustomed to their helpfulness, and their self-effacing manner of deflecting praise or appreciation. It’s Empath who says, “Ahh! no problem,” as they scoop up a friend’s soiled laundry, to drop at the cleaners on their way home. But its their martyr propensity that others tend to rib and tease most. It’s a typically, selfless Empath, who picks out the driest slices of roast beef at dinner, willingly takes the broken popsicle, or gives up their seat on the bus, et cetera. If within their power, Empath will choose the least and give up the most, because they would rather see others pleased, than themselves. And despite protests from others, will even insist that their “preference” is for less over more. It’s Empath, who senses something wrong with so-and-so, and on follow-up, learns of so-and-so’s timely need of them. Their name won’t be listed among fair-weather friends, for Empath is there for others, come rain or shine.

Note: Without having focused on, or investigated, it was realized after our Empath conversations began, that ESP is a common Empath tool. We invite all Empaths to participate in their own ESP exercise. It may help instill confidence in ways that our words cannot - how different emotion-intelligence is, and how uniquely gifted you are. Whenever you get those ‘feeling’ waves, define them, identify whom is involved, then jot all down in a special journal. Keep your own record of what is felt and what results, as proof.

Empaths are the champs at snappy comebacks. Entering into light-hearted banter or debate with them, is an intellectual challenge for others…and treat for all. When Empaths are feeling confident and happy, few are as quick-witted or humourous, as them. They do have one odd-seeming behaviour characteristic: when hurt by others, Empath shuts their doors, turns off the phones, and in private, treats their self. They’re not comfortable indulging their sweet tooth, watching that risque film, or sleeping in till noon, when others are around.

These emotional beings tend to keep their pain and their pleasures secret. Most will have a special “treat” stashed in a drawer in their desk, briefcase, or night table. Gaining weight easily is also characteristic. Many can become so self-conscious about their weight, they nibble in public and gorge in private. Some of the very best cooks are Empaths, who seem to have a highly developed sense of taste. This personality is least likely to smoke cigarettes or drink milk regularly. Milk can be tainted by other food odours in the fridge, and tastes off to them, unless it’s ice cold.

Generally, Empaths don’t like being alone. When ill, most others like to recuperate in private. If left alone when they’re sick, Empaths often get sicker and take longer to recover. No other is as crazy about newborns, infants, and small children, as them. Actually, the helpless of any species - flora or fauna - respond noticeably well, to Empath affection and ministering. Anything they plant in earth: house plants, gardens, fields, vineyards, and orchards, flourishes under their care.

Sadly, Empaths are seldom aware of their emotional gift. It is common for them to underutilize their talents and undervalue self. They prematurely throw in their towel, before realizing that, for them, rationalizing is like exploring dark caves blindfolded. Empath’s emotional-dimension is so sophisticated, so far beyond logic’s comprehension, they’d have to walk backwards, a lifetime or two, just to break even. It’s still a logic run and ruled world. Empaths are emotionals, and would be well-advised to learn the logical language. Thereafter, speak your own native tongue: emotions. Trust no other, no book, no source of information/inspiration that does not align with your own emotional truth. By feel, is truth known. That’s your gift: trust it, use it. Success for these individuals comes by way of emotions, not mind.

Emotions are the who and what of Empath.