Hi hermit,

Yeah I've heard of that stuff. Been tempted myself to do that.

Self employment might be my future too. That is no boss, minimal if any staff, and just your ability to give customer service. That's what I want.

I've decided I am so way healthier working from home so am doing online computer schooling for writing (tech writing, travel writing...) as well as computer studies. I like working around things that don't give off emotions (computers). But most likely I will need something that is part time around people and part time hidden away. After being away from people for a bit I am re-inspired to paint so may start doing shows again but this time - working smarter not harder.

Your question is one that is often posted on the INFJ tribe as we are also a small percentage in the Myers-Briggs world and don't feel balanced in many types of jobs. Might look there for some good ideas.

Cup, I hear you. Jobs are hard for empaths. I'm happiest working alone and with children. Children tend to be pretty psychic and sensitive so I feel like I can relate to them. I'm also so creative that sometimes only kids can get on my level of creativity when adults find it odd or strange (even if it's in a good way, they still think it's strange). I think it's personal too. I feel like Empaths are CAPABLE of doing anything, simply b/c we are so sensitive and can pick up on so many things. I think we can excel in education, counseling, medicine, the arts, and investigative work (if you can handle that environment). It's just a question of how much you can personally take. I know I'd be a great therapist, but I decided long ago that I was TOO sensitive to handle that kind of energy for myself everyday. Offices definintely suck for people like us. It just seems that the people drawn to that work (those who enjoy it at least) are just not as sensitive and it can be really painful to be around. Good luck on your search. What have you thought about lately that you might be interested in?

See, that's the thing ~

In a way, a combination of the economy and personal temperament (INFJ, INFP, whoever) can move us in directions that we might not explore otherwise because it seems easier to take a conventional road. But it all can be a blessing in disguise ~ moving us toward more creativity and leading us to greater long-term satisfaction. Cobbling together a way of life from various things, especially those we actually want to do, is a perfectly plausible and valid road to take. If the economy were better, the opportunities might not even occur to us because we are complacent enough or too stressed and busy to give them thought.

Biblio, I was thinking of participating in that this year too. I think writing may be one of my callings at this time. Not sure about books but articles might work for me. I'm actually taking an online writing course with Eva Shaw and it's great.

I'd have to say bad, since that's the situation I was in. There's also that empaths are good people to come talk to, but not necessarily well respected for all that. I had many people who just shrugged off any requests I made of them as just that. May have just been my style of leadership, but I don't believe in giving people orders. I would simply ask them please to do something and thank them when they were done. Most of them would "get around to it," but I had this one guy would could barely be bothered not to sneer at me if I'd ask. It got to the point between asking for and not receiving help and being treated like I was an idiot for even asking "some people," that I was doing all the work, taking all the stress, freaking out when I couldn't finish in the time allotted because everyone else could conscript helpers but me....

Now I just do my work like everyone else and I don't have to worry about the bigger picture and not getting help. That's someone else's problem.

I can relate to every post since I was last on here. This is a great discussion. Biblio- good for you for cutting your hours to suit your needs. I did the same thing about 6 years ago, and it was the best thing I've ever done. All you need is a money to survive and the rest will take care of itself. About management and customer service-- yes we are all probably great at it. I know I am. People have always told me how good I am with people, and my friends still find it hard to believe that I am an introvert at my core (they are good friends though so they believe me!). I took my one person operation to the next level last year and hired 3 people under me.... I HATED IT!!!!!!! I hated managing 3 people, especially 2 of them who didn't have an empathic bone in their bodies. Luckily those 2 left and I only have the sensitive, empathic one, whom I love. I learned a good lesson there.

A few common threads I am seeing on this thread:

*We like to be alone or at least with people who "get" us (for me, it's kids. I know that now)
*We like to be in control of when we work
*We like to use our empath skills, as long as we are not taken advantage of.

Would you all agree? It seems to me that the enrepreneurial (sp?) route is the best one for empaths. Of course, that's what I did, so I'd love if someone disagreed with me so that I can see the other side as well. But I really do get a sense that all of us here struggle every day with dealing with so much energy in the world, that we have to live on our own terms in order to survive.

There's no argument that empathy is useful in any service oriented job, but that kind of pressure, day in and day out, can eventually outweigh any benefit. It's not the twenty pleasant people who break you. It's the one idiot who's completely wrong, but which management says must be rewarded for their bad behavior because they are the customer. Personally, I feel that in retail any way, the longer businesses continue to reward the bad customers, the worse it's going to get for the workers. I actually had one guy put his hand on me once. He was a regular and felt it was okay to make his point by grabbing my arm. My boss and coworkers didn't understand why I was so upset, but I was so frazzled already from his badgering argument about why he should be allowed to do something and then to add his agitation to it when he invaded my personal space, he's lucky he didn't get hit. I seriously considered having him arrested or quitting on the spot.

"If I'm able to be employed next year, I will most definitely try to be self-employed first, so I can work at home. "
Amen, sister

A blessing for you and them Wind. Sounds like you were a perfect match as I remember some of your older posts and the respect you have for your clients gifts.