From Social Butterfly to Socially Selective

Published by Karie Millspaugh on June 19, 2020June 19, 2020

My article that was published with Thrive Global:

How I Went From Being a Social Butterfly to Being Socially Selective

I come from a large family of five kids. I’m the fourth in the line up and have always been known as the communicator or the glue that holds the family together. If you want something done, just give it to Karie, she will always see it through.

As a child, at dinner time, I would rather talk about the day than eat, so I would chatter nonstop about my day while getting sidelong glances from my dad to please stop and just eat.

I was always known as the bubbly blonde with lots of fun energy and to this day, that is how my clients describe me.

But … something changed in my adult life that made me more cautious and selective with who gets to experience that fun energy.

It wasn’t until I left my corporate job back in 2014 and started working for myself that I discovered that I was an empath.

Description of an EMPATH

Once I did some research on how I am wonderfully made by God Himself, did I truly start to understand how I am wired.

I could never understand why some environments would leave me drained and mentally exhausted while other environments boosted my energy and left me feeling unstoppable.

I didn’t realize that I was actually absorbing the energy and thoughts/emotions from those around me. Yes, we are somewhat superhuman and just know things.

Example: Going to church with 3000 people in the audience that are praising God leaves me feeling as if I’m on the top of the world. I am filled with peace, joy, and renewed hope.

I can also be surrounded with another group of 3000 people at a concert and if the music is not my favorite genre or the crowd is angry, drunk or high, I will leave with a sense of dread, fear and anxiety.

As an empath that was still learning how to manage my own emotions and energy, I started to withdraw from being the social butterfly. I went from being the girl that said yes to every event, to the one that would rather be at home, alone.

Read entire article on Thrive Global HERE