The curse of an Empath and TV
My entire perception of the word "empath" originated with Charmed's episode Primrose Empath where Prue became mentally incapacitated upon the gaining of an empath's powers to feel the pain of the world. She was not only debilitated, but running onto the edge of insane when her power to feel grew. She was so strongly inflicted that she could only retreat and recluse into the depths of a basement to escape from people. All people. So she could escape the pain, the heartache, the overwhelming emotions that emanated from anyone around her. That's me.
I'm sure it's difficult to believe that someone as strong-minded, seemingly heartless, and so well-adjusted as me would feel people's emotions so strongly. Being an INFJ I've been cursed and blessed with this power to feel and understand people. Only 1 percent of the population has such a capacity to feel. Maybe that's why I never made it as a teacher. I felt so much that I couldn't meet the needs of everyone and so I was tired out by the end of the day. Watch Prue on this episode and you might know how I often feel when I have too much extraverted energy around me. Like today. I walked through the university campus with my head down, only glancing a few times to my right or left so as not to run over by a car, because I could feel every word people spoke, the way they acted toward their best friend, their classmate, their professor, their significant other.... I couldn't stand it. I needed time for me, since I'd given too much time for my family lately.
Anyway, it's nice that a popular show has depicted the reality of empaths. People really must understand what we go through on a daily basis. I feel as though Charmed has shaped my ambitions and goals. Independent, single girls of the 21st century, they are, and they've influenced me since 1998, when I was in 8th grade. That is one heck of an influential stage. It's not unusual that they have, in part, made me who I am today: a leader. Ulhumdu lillah (praise be to God). This is what my enneagram results came out to be today when I took the personality test (Type 8 - Leader). From this I understand why people might have a difficult time to understanding why I'm so weak, and yet seem so strong outwardly. I know I've been blessed with such capacity to feel, but I will tell you, it's not easy, but it makes me who I am.
Regardless, let's take an objective look at one piece of pop culture I actually (used to) consume: Charmed. Unimpressive in terms of dialogue "Hey, stop that." said Phoebe childishly when Prue said "Why help me when you really want to be with Cole?" Since Prue could feel what was in her heart. Up until season 4 it was fast-paced, well-written, and impressively produced since it actually kept my attention. Me, a person who is not easily amused, nor one who can be passive for too long. After season 5 I was inflicted with weak story lines, childish mannerisms and weak talk between the three sisters. After season 5, I gave up on the show I grew up with, and stopped watching one of the only shows I watched regularly. It failed to be entertaining and educative.
Aside from all the witchcraft, I learned a great deal about life in the 21st century: career women who were strong, independent, successful, and empathic within their small family circle. Unlike sensors, I have the ability to separate the witchcraft from the practical daily live of the witches, so I received a great education of life in the 21sy century. It was the Mary Tyler Moore of the 90s and 2000s. Sorry guys, if you can't see what practicality I see in that show, I guess you're just not INFJ empaths. Brian, my INTP friend would probably ridicule me for thinking that show as educative, but he's often fascinated with the insight me, the INFJ, can offer his rational thinking. It's very interesting when we get together and talk in our Junto Intellectual group. Anyway, as I close this entry entering the title "The Empath" in the title line I see that word as invigorating and damning because I know well what it feels like to be an empath. To feel the emotions of everyone in the room, all at the same time. Whether it be large party where people feel insecure about talking to others, shy as wallflower, powerful as the center or attention, and or insufficient as a social humane being I feel it all. I even feel the even stronger dimensions of the emotions wrought within a family. My brother's feeling that he is misunderstood (he's 13), my Dad's feeling that he should give as much as he has to his children, my mother's need to care for her family by maintaining a clean home after 8 long hours of work, my sister's insecurity that her friends don't like her for her. Unbelievable the amount of emotion running through every situation. Can you understand now why I need more than 6 hours at night to re-cooperate?
Though I have a sound, individually derived perception of the word empath, I can't deny much of that perception is instinctively drawn from Charmed's depiction of such a creature. Interesting how television has shaped our ideas about life, huh? Especially our generation...what a great symbol to include in my novel.
I'm sure it's difficult to believe that someone as strong-minded, seemingly heartless, and so well-adjusted as me would feel people's emotions so strongly. Being an INFJ I've been cursed and blessed with this power to feel and understand people. Only 1 percent of the population has such a capacity to feel. Maybe that's why I never made it as a teacher. I felt so much that I couldn't meet the needs of everyone and so I was tired out by the end of the day. Watch Prue on this episode and you might know how I often feel when I have too much extraverted energy around me. Like today. I walked through the university campus with my head down, only glancing a few times to my right or left so as not to run over by a car, because I could feel every word people spoke, the way they acted toward their best friend, their classmate, their professor, their significant other.... I couldn't stand it. I needed time for me, since I'd given too much time for my family lately.
Anyway, it's nice that a popular show has depicted the reality of empaths. People really must understand what we go through on a daily basis. I feel as though Charmed has shaped my ambitions and goals. Independent, single girls of the 21st century, they are, and they've influenced me since 1998, when I was in 8th grade. That is one heck of an influential stage. It's not unusual that they have, in part, made me who I am today: a leader. Ulhumdu lillah (praise be to God). This is what my enneagram results came out to be today when I took the personality test (Type 8 - Leader). From this I understand why people might have a difficult time to understanding why I'm so weak, and yet seem so strong outwardly. I know I've been blessed with such capacity to feel, but I will tell you, it's not easy, but it makes me who I am.
Regardless, let's take an objective look at one piece of pop culture I actually (used to) consume: Charmed. Unimpressive in terms of dialogue "Hey, stop that." said Phoebe childishly when Prue said "Why help me when you really want to be with Cole?" Since Prue could feel what was in her heart. Up until season 4 it was fast-paced, well-written, and impressively produced since it actually kept my attention. Me, a person who is not easily amused, nor one who can be passive for too long. After season 5 I was inflicted with weak story lines, childish mannerisms and weak talk between the three sisters. After season 5, I gave up on the show I grew up with, and stopped watching one of the only shows I watched regularly. It failed to be entertaining and educative.
Aside from all the witchcraft, I learned a great deal about life in the 21st century: career women who were strong, independent, successful, and empathic within their small family circle. Unlike sensors, I have the ability to separate the witchcraft from the practical daily live of the witches, so I received a great education of life in the 21sy century. It was the Mary Tyler Moore of the 90s and 2000s. Sorry guys, if you can't see what practicality I see in that show, I guess you're just not INFJ empaths. Brian, my INTP friend would probably ridicule me for thinking that show as educative, but he's often fascinated with the insight me, the INFJ, can offer his rational thinking. It's very interesting when we get together and talk in our Junto Intellectual group. Anyway, as I close this entry entering the title "The Empath" in the title line I see that word as invigorating and damning because I know well what it feels like to be an empath. To feel the emotions of everyone in the room, all at the same time. Whether it be large party where people feel insecure about talking to others, shy as wallflower, powerful as the center or attention, and or insufficient as a social humane being I feel it all. I even feel the even stronger dimensions of the emotions wrought within a family. My brother's feeling that he is misunderstood (he's 13), my Dad's feeling that he should give as much as he has to his children, my mother's need to care for her family by maintaining a clean home after 8 long hours of work, my sister's insecurity that her friends don't like her for her. Unbelievable the amount of emotion running through every situation. Can you understand now why I need more than 6 hours at night to re-cooperate?
Though I have a sound, individually derived perception of the word empath, I can't deny much of that perception is instinctively drawn from Charmed's depiction of such a creature. Interesting how television has shaped our ideas about life, huh? Especially our generation...what a great symbol to include in my novel.
