Empathy: My Power

          

          When I was growing up, it wasn't about being good at something, rather it was about being good at something, or having a talent that I was actually proud of.  For instance, being that I started at age three, by the time I was nine or ten years old, I was an accomplished violinist.  I had a good ear and a natural ability to produce an extraordinary sound with my violin.  However, I always took a lot of slack for being good at the violin.  I would hear things like "You're a sissy" or "Violin is for girls".  At this time in my life, I couldn't help but take what these people were saying to heart.  I turned the envy and insecurity of others into a truth in my own mind.  I believed what they said, and it was at this point I was left with nothing that I did to actually feel proud of about myself.  As I advanced in life and entered my teenage years, I started trying to discover myself, and find these things.  I was looking in all the wrong places and at age sixteen I found myself stripped of any self-respect and self-esteem I had left.  Because of my poor choices, I found myself face down in the gutter, with even less to show for myself.  When I got sober, I started to find out about myself.  With the help of my friends and mentors, I found that I did have a gift, or "power" all along.  While not unique to me, I found that I had the ability to really feel what others were feeling with them - to connect, and make someone else really feel loved, because for some reason, I was able to feel their adversity and pain.  I would consider this to be a true power and gift of mine.

          I don't believe there was a time where I lost this power.  The reason for this is because I do not believe I even knew I had this power until I got clean and sober.  What is interesting about my experience with my power is I do not believe if I would have been able to even realize that it was there had I not gone through all the suffering and pain that I went through myself.  My personal experience through hell and back has been of the utmost importance to harness and strengthen this inner power I have.

          There are just a few simple things I do to utilize my power of empathy.  Firstly, and most importantly, is I keep a connection with a Creator of my understanding.  This entails much prayer and meditation.  In addition, it is important for me to keep in touch with Gods' children.  By connecting with another human being, having intimate conversations, I get to use the gift I was given.

When I was a Limitless Child

When I was a limitless child, I let my brain limit me.

My mind blocked me off from the freedom and possibility of my youth.

Everything I did wasn't good enough,

I could never please you.

I couldn't acknowledge and appreciate my inner strengths,

For all I heard were the things that made me weak or insignificant.

After much trial and tribulation,

I was able to let go of all the pain and delusion I suffered from as a child.

Opening my mind up allowed me to embark on the journey of self-discovery.

I can now partake in my own life,

Which means that I can partake in yours.

Recognizing my inner beauty has in turn allowed me to recognize the beauty of the world and it's people.

I cannot take the credit for this ability,

For it was those that already harnessed their own strengths helped me harness mine,

And for that,

I am truly grateful.