Factors Influencing Us as Empaths
There are a number of factors affecting how we pick up energy from other people:
● Receiving
Our sensitivity as receivers will factor into how much energy we pick up.
● Sending
Some people transmit their energy more strongly than others, and the depth of the emotions that they are experiencing will also turn up the volume that they are sending out.
● Awareness
The unaware person may be just as sensitive as the aware person. The latter will understand why they have mood swings; the former will not.
● Bloodline
Blood relatives will affect us regardless of where in the world we are and whether we are thinking about them or not. The link between sender and receiver is often stronger where there is a blood connection. Often, empath children may process the emotions of their parents or siblings long into adulthood.
● Emotional Connection
Friends and acquaintances will impact us primarily based on the strength of the emotional connection we have to them, largely without regard to physical proximity. The stronger the emotional connection is, the less important the physical proximity is. Having worked from home for many years with teams spread all over the country, I have picked up energy from managers and teammates regardless of location.
● Physical Proximity
Neighbors and strangers will influence us based on physical proximity. This is true for the people living in our neighborhood and the strangers we brush up against in the shopping mall.

Trevor N. Lewis, Abbigayle McKinney