Who Are the Best Partners for Empaths?

Who Are the Best Partners for Empaths?

By Judith Orloff M. D.

Posted on November 17, 2023

Which type of person makes the ideal match for empaths? It depends on your temperament and needs. You must determine which type (or mixture of types) you prefer and will be most compatible with over time. Each type can be extroverted or introverted.

Type #1. The Intellectual: Intense Thinker

Intellectuals are smart and astute analyzers who are most at home in their mind. They see the world through logic and rational thought. Known for keeping calm during a conflict, they often avoid their emotions, don’t easily trust their gut, and are slow to participate in light-hearted, sensual, or playful activities. Intellectuals can make good partners for certain empaths because their sense of logic compliments and grounds an empath’s emotional intensity.

Tips to Help an Empath Communicate with an Intellectual

• Ask for help. Intellectuals love to solve problems. Be very specific about ways they can assist you with a problem or task.
• Mention only one issue at a time. Intellectuals can get thrown off by too many “unfixable” emotions.
• Regularly communicate. Keeping the lines of communication open with intellectuals allows you to be clearer and more loving with each other.

Type #2. The Empath: Emotional Sponge

Empaths are kind, supportive, and passionate partners. They also tend to feel their own and their spouse’s emotions to an extreme. I am often asked, “Can two empaths have a good relationship?” Yes, definitely. The heart connection is incredible! Because both partners understand each other, they don’t have to explain themselves as much. However, for such a relationship to succeed and remain harmonious, the couple must keep sharing about their mutual needs. Two empaths on overwhelm at the same time can get pretty intense. Such a relationship requires mutual understanding and separate spaces to wind down.

I’ve treated many couples in which both partners are empaths. I’ve taught them how to respect each other’s sensitivities but stay grounded. The positive side is that each person easily appreciates what the other is feeling. The more difficult aspect is defining your own needs and setting boundaries to feel safe and calm. When empaths are triggered, they need a time-out to regroup and decompress. Two empaths who are both upset can aggravate each other’s anxiety. Each partner needs his or her separate quiet space to unwind. Though it is often challenging for two empaths to be in love, over the long term, the relationship can be successful with mutual respect.

Tips to Help Two Empaths Communicate

• Take time apart each day to relax. Calming minibreaks by yourself are restorative. Go for a walk outside or meditate in your room alone. Exhale pent-up emotions such as anxiety or fear so they don’t stay in your body or you project them to your partner.
• Protect your sensitivities. Make a list of your top five most emotionally triggering situations. Then, together, formulate a plan for handling them so you don’t get caught in a panic.
• Meditate together. This helps you to connect spiritually in silence and will strengthen your bond.

Type #3. The Rock: Strong and Silent Type

Consistent, dependable, and stable, they will always be there for you. You can express emotions freely around them. They won’t get alarmed or be critical. You can always count on them, which is reassuring for empaths who love consistency. But Rocks often have a hard time sharing their own feelings. Their empath mates may keep trying to get them to open up but become frustrated with the slow progress. Empaths may feel that Rocks are emotionally shut off, even boring.

Empaths and Rocks can make wonderful partners. They balance each other. Rocks can learn from empaths how to express their passion and emotions more clearly, while empaths can learn grounding from the Rock. Their feet are solid on the earth. It’s not that Rocks don’t have feelings. They just need you to lovingly support them to bring them out.

Tips to Help an Empath Communicate with a Rock

• Express gratitude. Regularly voice appreciation for a Rock’s positive qualities.
• Make an intimacy request. In order to connect more deeply, ask the Rock to express at least one emotion a day such as “I’m delighted,” “I love you,” or I’m feeling anxious.”
• Spend time in nature together. This will let you have a mutual physical activity which will bring you closer to each other in natural settings.

I do best with a partner who is a Rock and a non-empath. My mate, who has some admirable Rock qualities, is grounded and can hear my emotions without getting swept away by them. Being with another empath would feel too overwhelming for me. I also prefer a partner who is quiet and contained, rather than someone who talks a lot and shares his emotional states frequently.

How do you find a compatible partner? Empaths can feel a connection with someone, more with energy than with words. Notice the way you relate to someone’s energy. Ask yourself, does this person’s words match their energy or is something amiss? If you have doubts, go slowly. Do not give your heart to people unless they prove themselves worthy of your love. Keep intuitively tuning in to find out who that person really is.

Judith Orloff

 https://drjudithorloff.com/who-are-the-best-partners-for-empaths/

10 Signs You Are Smarter Than People Think

10 Signs You Are Smarter Than People Think

By Sherrie Hurd, A.A.

learning-mind.com

Posted on September 24, 2023

Before you sell yourself short, think twice. Despite what they say, you are smarter than people think. There are signs that prove this.

Did you ever consider that you are smarter than people think? You could actually be smarter than you give yourself credit for as well.

Those who are truly intelligent are the ones who question themselves. The ones who think they know it all, on the other hand, never stop to ask many questions, now do they?

You are smarter than people think

It’s an inner struggle, a torment that makes us question our own intellect. And with these questions, we stay quiet, afraid to share knowledge and offer insight.

Some of us will never speak up because we fear looking dumb. Chances are, we probably aren’t dumb at all. Guess what? You actually may be much smarter than you think.

Some people may see you as ordinary or average. They may even assume your IQ isn’t all that high. But here are a few signs that you are smarter than people think you are.

1. You’re curious

When you think of the word “curious”, you probably think about someone asking loads of questions, being nosey, or listening to conversations. Just because you want to know things doesn’t always mean you’re getting into other people’s business.

No, curious people do this, and it doesn’t mean they aren’t intelligent. It means the opposite. Curiosity is the mind seeking more information. Sometimes you genuinely crave learning new things. And while there are nosey people who are up to no good, not all curious people fall into this category.

2. You’re rather introverted

There’s this misconception that introverted people may not be that intelligent. Well, this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, introverts feel confident doing many things on their own. This includes eating alone at restaurants, reading at home, and just sitting in silence.

Unlike many others who cram their schedules to always be around people, introverts feel just fine with free time. So, if you are introverted and you love being alone, you’re probably pretty intelligent.

3. High level of self-awareness

How aware of yourself are you? I mean, obviously, you exist, but that’s not what I mean. Self-awareness is the ability to understand your strengths, weaknesses, emotions, and motivations. If you have a strong sense of who you are, then you are aware of your intellectual limitations.

This makes you humble, and, thus, smarter. However, others may not be so aware of how smart you really are, and that’s okay. This is also a strength.

4. You do not mind ambiguity

Not everything has a clear answer, and this drives most people crazy. Yes, for the most part, we want to know how to do something and want all the details. But the most intelligent of us can deal with ambiguity and explore creativity within this state of being.

Let’s say you are at work and you receive vague details about a task that needs to be done. Do you panic, or do you simply figure it out on your own? If you can pivot well in your unsure circumstances and still be at peace, you are smarter than people think.

5. You don’t follow trends

While it may seem smart to keep up with the latest trends, it really doesn’t gauge your intelligence. Even though influencers make large amounts of money doing this, it still doesn’t make them more intelligent. In fact, setting trends is more of an indicator of smarts than following them.

If the skinny jeans craze did not impress you or you never felt pressured to wear pearls last year, then you feel comfortable being yourself. That’s my take on that, anyway. You will find that the most intelligent people gravitate toward more classic styles and fashions when they aren’t creating their own.

6. You’re open-minded

Being set in your ways may seem honorable. And yes, this has been me many times. However, being more open-minded equals a healthier brain.

You are smarter than people think when you can see various perspectives and have a high tolerance for differences. You are able to consider other ideas that starkly contrast your own, and these ideas do not offend you, either.

7. You’re a cat person

This one may be a bit questionable, but it’s a common assumption. It seems that more introverted people have cats as pets, while more extroverted people prefer dogs. And what have we learned about introverts?

Well, considering introverts tend to be quite intelligent, this makes complete sense. Is it true? Do cat people possess more intelligence?

After surveying over 600 college students, researchers found feline lovers score higher on intelligence tests. They analyzed results in the Association for Psychological Science. Researchers also found that cat owners are more open-minded and introverted.

8. You’re messy

Neatness doesn’t always equal intelligence. I’m sure this has been an assumption before. If you’re messy or disorganized, it’s possible that you’re smarter than people think. You see, when you’re focusing on tasks; you realize that neatness is not a top priority.

Take Einstein, for instance. In those pictures of him, you can clearly see a highly unorganized desk and surroundings. So, don’t be too hard on yourself for falling behind on organizing. It could be that your intellect is working full force.

9. You are funny

People who are smart tend to have a great sense of humor. They can come up with jokes quickly and easily make others laugh. Sometimes they don’t even have to think of a joke. They just say the first thing that comes to mind, and many times, it’s hilarious.

Even though you may be an introvert, you still have an ingrained sense of good verbal communication, which is odd. With this verbal communication ability, you are naturally funny, and you are smarter than people think.

10. You’re intuitive

Intuition can sometimes be more powerful than other forms of intellect. The ability to know something doesn’t feel right is a great survival tactic. If you have great intuition, you’re more in tune with the emotions of others around you.

This also means you can help people quickly and form strong relationships with others. Even if you aren’t really a people person, your intuition will push you to help when it’s needed.

Intelligence isn’t always obvious

There are many people in this world who profess to be highly intelligent. Unfortunately, some of these people are quite the opposite. You will know them by their inability to say, “I don’t know”. It’s true. Being able to admit that you don’t know something is much more intelligent than pretending that you do.

So, remember this: You are smarter than people think. Never let them convince you otherwise. Always be willing to learn new things and continue to be open-minded. If others cannot see your intellect, then that’s your secret weapon. Let them keep wondering.

Sherrie Hurd

About the author:

 

Sherrie Hurd, A.A.

Staff writer at Learning Mind
Sherrie Hurd is a professional writer and artist with over 20 years of experience. As a survivor of childhood trauma and multiple types of abuse, she is an advocate for mental health awareness. Sherrie manages multiple mental illnesses, including anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. With this background and personal experience, she strives to help others overcome trauma and abuse, cope with mental illness, and heal over time.

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