To regulate your empathy, cross the street. This is an edgy and confrontational way of putting it, but it is literally accurate. Cross the street away from the neighbor to “down regulate” your empathy, and experience less empathic distress; and cross the street towards your neighbor to expand your empathy in the direction of creating an inclusive community of persons, who recognize the value of cooperation.

The empathy lesson is that the vicarious experience does not have to be overwhelming. Rather, with practice, and even if you are a natural empath, you are able to shift your focus from suffering to neighborliness; you are able to shift your attention from suffering to making a difference and enhanced self-esteem, expanding community and shared humanity.

The Natural Empath requires special attention. Most people need to expand - "up regulate" - their empathy; in contrast, the Natural Empath may usefully practice techniques of "down regulating" - setting boundaries to - her or his empathy. Find out how to do that in this engaging podcast. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://louagosta.com/2021/06/06/the-natural-empath-meets-the-good-samaritan/

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