Photo: Sean Yoro
How much of an empath are you really?
By Rebecca Jane Stokes
Last updated on Aug 29, 2023
For years my mother used to talk about how the women in her family had a sort of "second sight." My sister and I would roll our eyes, but then tell stories late into the night about the awesome women who were our relatives, and together we'd weave stories about what would happen when we finally got our own mental superpowers.
While I no longer believe in psychic abilities, I do believe that there are people whose sensitivity to the emotions and thoughts of the people around them is so high that they can make tremendous insights into a person's life, or provide them with guidance should they need it at any point.
I'm not the only person who believes this, either. In fact, the idea of being an empath, a person who takes on and feels the emotions of the people around them, is gaining more and more interest as time has gone on.
Has anyone ever called you "too sensitive"? Do you need to take a lot of time to yourself because spending too much time with people is draining? Do you sometimes get so stressed out and upset by the feelings your loved ones are experiencing that it feels like it's happening to you? Has anyone ever said that they think you're a little psychic? You might be an empath.
How empathic are you? If you want to know for sure, all you have to do is take this quick personality test.
This personality test only takes a couple of seconds to help you establish just how empathic you are.
Simply look at the image below and pay close attention to the first thing in the image that captures your eye. Once you've done that, scroll down to find out what this personality test reveals about how empathic you really are.
Photo: Sean Yoro
1. If you saw the woman
If you saw the woman first when you looked at this image, you consider yourself to be an expert on people, on how they think and how they feel.
The truth of the matter is that you're an expert on... yourself. You're not selfish or self-obsessed, but you aren't empathic either.
Chances are you're a person who has spent a lot of time figuring themselves out and you're eager to share what you've learned.
2. If you saw the woman's reflection
If you saw the woman's reflection first, you are the kind of individual who has always been fascinated by studying other people.
You are very intelligent, and that includes emotional intelligence. You can often figure out what someone is thinking or feeling even if they think they're keeping it under wraps.
You may be empathic, or you may just be good with people. Either way, it's an awesome gift.
3. If you saw the water
If you saw the water first, you are definitely empathic.
While others who look at this image might be distracted by the woman and her reflection, you were focusing on the things that surround her, on how the ripples in the water seem to change and alter her image.
You were born this way, and even if you're just now realizing that the way you see and feel things might be different, you'll easily get a grasp on that.
4. If you saw the wall
If you saw the wall first, you have a tough time understanding people.
They have just never been your focus. It's not that you don't like people, but very often the things they say and do are confusing to you and you'd give anything to figure them out.
You aren't empathic, but people interest you and that means you're likely an engaged and thoughtful friend.
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Rebecca Jane Stokes is a freelance writer, editor, former Senior Editor of Pop Culture at Newsweek, and former Senior Staff Writer for YourTango. She has a passion for lifestyle, geek news, and true crime topics. Her bylines have appeared on Fatherly, Bustle, SheKnows, Jezebel, and many others.