December 6, 2024 at 2:08pm EST

Your Empathy is a Gift

Narcissistic people often exploit your empathy.

Empathy means understanding and sharing someone else’s feelings.

It’s a wonderful trait, but narcissists take advantage of it by playing the victim, exaggerating their problems, and guilt-tripping you.

So, how can you keep your empathy but protect yourself?

Start by setting boundaries around what you’re responsible for with the people in your life.

For example:

• Remind yourself that other people’s feelings are not your responsibility to fix.
• Offer support without stepping in to solve their problems.
• Give yourself permission to say, “I care about you, but I can’t take this on.”

Boundaries don’t make you less empathetic—they make your empathy healthier.

When you’re clear about what’s yours to carry and what isn’t, you ensure your empathy remains a gift, not something others can take advantage of.

All the best,

Juliana

The Unfilteredd Team