Last evening, Rita and I were having our ice cream soda and a vanilla milkshake at our favorite corner café. Between sips and smiles, Rita suddenly grew quiet. “You know,” she said, stirring her soda slowly, “I think I’m too sensitive sometimes. It’s like I walk into a room and instantly feel what everyone else is feeling. If someone’s upset, I carry it with me the whole day. It’s exhausting.”
I looked at her, thoughtful. Rita’s been this way since kindergarten — the kind of person who’ll go out of her way to comfort someone in need, no matter what time it is. She doesn’t just notice how others feel; she absorbs it, like a sponge soaking up water.
“Rita,” I said gently, “your empathy is one of your best qualities but it doesn’t mean you have to carry everyone’s emotions like they’re your own. There’s a difference between caring for someone and letting their pain live inside you. You can be there for others without losing yourself in the process.”
She raised an eyebrow and said, “How is that possible?”
“I read something once,” I said, “about visualizing an emotional boundary — like a gentle, clear bubble around you. It doesn’t block out love or connection but it helps keep what’s not yours from seeping in. It’s about grounding yourself. Take a deep breath, feel your feet on the floor, and remember what’s yours to feel and what isn’t.”
She was quiet for a second, then said, “But what if they need me? What if walking away makes me selfish?”
“Rita, taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s what lets you keep showing up for others withoutburning out. You don’t have to walk away — you just don’t have to carry everything.”
She nodded slowly, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. “That makes a lot of sense.”
“Thank you,” she said softly. “You always know how to help without making it heavy.”
That made me smile. Sometimes we need someone to remind us that our hearts can be soft without being overwhelmed.
Dear Reader, if you’re the kind of soul who feels everything deeply, take heart. Sensitivity isn’t weakness — it’s your superpower. But even superheroes need boundaries. Don’t be afraid to draw a line between compassion and self-preservation. You’re allowed to care for others without losing yourself in the process. After all, the world needs your light, but it also needs you to shine for yourself.
