The issues at work caused me to take notice, do some self-reflection, and try to get a handle on what was happening. To the non-sensitive, non-empathic individual, it would have simply been a case of disciplinary action. I was late for work, and I was written up. Both of these things are true. It went way beyond that. There was a written warning. The first one I’d gotten in my life! When I received it, I knew there was more to it. I knew by then that something was about to happen. I’d felt an overwhelming sense of impending doom for months. I could feel the tension whenever I interacted with certain people, and I knew I wasn’t imagining it. My coworkers and director were civil to my face, but they’d unknowingly tipped their hands to me. They were dealing with a sensitive. I knew what their intentions were and I had no doubt they were looking for a way to terminate me. Because my work performance was exemplary, it took them over a year to do it, but in the end it turned out as I predicted.
It was that major amount of inner work that allowed me to analyze the things that were happening at work and see them for what they truly were. I looked at things that occurred during my childhood, teen years, and on into my adult years as well. I noticed most of the painful times had affected me so greatly because I was an empath. Conflicts were the worst, and I suffered so much more than the average person because I could feel the emotion and anger directed toward me, as if it were an object someone had physically thrown at me. When I had a disagreement with one of my friends or family members–anyone, really–I sensed their true feelings. Later, most would say they didn’t mean the things they said and they were just angry; and if they were not being honest about how they felt, I always knew. I knew whether or not they were telling the truth and whether or not they were truly sorry. That was especially hard on me as a kid. It hasn’t gotten any easier. I just know how to deal with it better as an adult.
There is nothing worse than having an argument with someone you consider a good friend, only to realize that they never really were your friend to begin with. They were only hanging around because of what they could get from you. That realization coupled with me having to learn to say no to people and stand up for myself was one of life’s hardest lessons for me. It remains so. I’ve had to sever ties I never thought I’d have to sever. Some were people I’d known my entire life; others were people who I’d met at work. All were opportunists that knew I had a people pleasing nature. As soon as I began to start thinking about what I needed to be happy and voiced it, the opportunists in my life got very uncomfortable. Most were gone in a flash. Others stuck around a while longer, perhaps to see if I was going to stick to my guns. I did, and eventually even the stubborn ones had to take notice. For whatever reason, it seems empaths always have people in their lives that drain their energy. I call these people Energy Vampires. These types of individuals are drawn to an empath because of their common inability to say no or stand up for themselves.
Keep an eye out for more on Energy Vampires and how to defend yourself against them in a future post! In the mean time, if you’d like some great information about empaths and their common characteristics, you can find it at the following links:
http://www.psi-zone.net/guidebook.html http://mysilentecho.com/dreamtongue1.htm .
…to be continued…
soul posts 
I remember having similar problems at work. However, I was stronger, and knew what I was doing. As a result, I’m still there today, and all the others who tried to make life hell aren’t. The place is now an example of office harmony, though, eventually I will have to leave.
But sometimes, these things must happen in order to push you on. It’s too easy to get stuck in a pleasant rut.
Gary,
I was incredibly naive when I was working there. I honestly thought that if I just did the job to the best of my ability, and ignored the drama that some individuals attempted to draw me into, all would be fine. I also did not know at the time that my intuition was telling me what they were up to. I thought it was insecurity and anxiety altering my perception of certain events. Be that as it may, I strongly believe that Source, the Universe, God, whatever you believe guides our journeys, felt I needed to experience it, but also needed to be free of it. I cannot describe the delibilitating effect on my psyche dealing with that amount of negativity on a daily basis. I once described it as “soul crushing” to a friend. Because of what I went through there, and my ignorance of my gift at that time, I feel as though I was unprotected, feeling all the energies of everyone there going through all the fear and uncertainty one goes through during organizational layoffs, upheaval, and corporate restructuring. To some, it may seem I’m being overly dramatic, as it was only my job. I know that now, but honestly, at the time I was so wrapped up in it and had all my self esteem tied up in my career. It was the best thing that could’ve happened as I’ve grown in leaps and bounds in the year since. The incredible irony to me is that in that one action that at the time felt like they’d taken my life from me, they actually gave it back to me, and a much better one at that. 🙂
I went through similar things when I first started working. I learned quickly though. No one can be trusted in a work place. People will always talk behind your back if it’s to their advantage, or if they just love the drama.
Fortunately for me, I had learned to listen to my intuition in my current job, and also, my guides were ropeable about what was going on, saying that if they didn’t stop, they would do something about it.. which they did.
By the way, speaking of feeling all of those energies, today’s blog deals with that very subject.