Self-Care for the Self-Aware: A Guide for Highly Sensitive People, Empaths, Intuitives, and Healers

by Dave Markowitz

"
The needs of the self-aware are different. Many of us are overly empathic, and many are extra sensitive to certain foods, medicines, situations, and people.
If you have physical or emotional ailments, are overweight, have allergies, or are inexplicably lethargic, unfocused, or feeling lost, there is a reason. Your energetic sensitivities likely have caused you to take on the pain, unhappiness, and other disease of the people around you. Self-Care for the Self-Aware provides a solution specifically tailored for you and your uncommon healing needs.
If you've done way too many traditional, alternative, or complementary healing modalities and at best have only achieved temporary relief, Self-Care for the Self-Aware is for you. You'll learn a process specific to the self-aware to heal ourselves, so we can better serve others.
"

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Mental Health, Psychology, Metaphysics, Health

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 5, 2013

Reviews

[Lilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. I'm not into notions of a monotheist or New Age "One" or "Source," nor do I subscribe to qi energy and chakras, so this book doesn't really gel with my personal spirituality. I was looking for something more practical and unbiased towards a certain spiritual path. Ah well.

[Joyce Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if the health imbalance in your body—wait for it—isn’t really yours, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or another immune system matter, and more? What if most of the anger and or depression you feel isn’t really yours either? What the heck am I talking about, you ask? Before I say more, let me ask you this: Is there one person or several people in your life who, when you speak with them on the phone or go around them, cause you to feel drained? Do you avoid crowds? What’s possibly going on is that you may be an emotional sponge—of other people’s emotions! And this is harming you in more ways than you might imagine, including feeling over-burdened in life and not good enough (including how much you feel you deserve to be successful in life, whatever that means for you), no matter how much you do or how much you work on yourself spiritually or metaphysically. Maybe you wear the superhero cape and try to save others who make no attempt to save themselves, and you’re plain worn out by this. There’s hope! And you can find it AND create significant shifts in you and your life, starting now, in Dave Markowitz’s book Self-Care for the Self-Aware: A Guide for Highly Sensitive People, Empaths, Intuitives, and Healers. Dave’s explanations help you to understand what’s really going on. His tools and the Return to Sender exercise help you release and get relief from carrying what’s not yours to carry! This book is small but powerful, and a must-read for anyone who resonates with what’s described above. If you feel like your life isn’t your own and you want it back, or isn’t what you truly desire it to be, get this book now. Read it as often as you need to and free yourself from burdens and responsibilities and health imbalances that aren’t yours. ~ Joyce Shafer, Life Empowerment Coach; Author of I Don’t Want to Be Your Guru, But I Have Something to Say, and more; Publisher, State of Appreciation, a free online newsletter found at http://stateofappreciation.weebly.com/

[Rebecca Wattier · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an empath and HSP I found some helpful concepts in this book. Specifically regarding establishing some time and space for recharging and processing. I have read a good bit on this topic already so I didn't hear anything new as much as I was reminded of things I needed to hear again. As a believer in the Bible and a follower of Christ I found some things I thought to be a bit sketchy from a theological view but this book never claimed to be a theological textbook. Overall I would recommend it to someone who is just starting to understand and study up on High Sensitivity or empath abilities, but I would also recommend you take it with a grain of salt and filter it through more grounded spiritual instruction.

[Filipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Markowitz's book is exactly what you'd expect from the title. There's no point going into hoping for anything based on science. If you're not open-minded enough or aren't spiritually inclined, there's no point in reading this book. If you're intuition sends you here, however, or it comes recommended by someone who views life from a more transcendental perspective, then there's a strong chance this was made for you. The book is short and the writing clear and to the point. The ideas will appeal mostly to those who tend to take on other people's troubles. Do the exercises, or at least try them. They might not work for you, but you'll still be glad you try them.

[Flawid · Rating 1 out of 5]

44% into the book and it feels like a lot of assumptions, speculation and words heavily buried under the author's own views of the world he lives in, rather than something unbiased. Thought it would address something about being highly sensitive, but it's geared more towards 'empaths' and all the other 'spiritually' aware people. Guess I picked the wrong book to learn more about being highly sensitive.

63% into the book: How can the author make assumptions that we already know a lot of the stuff he's talking about? It's ridiculous.

[Debbie Tremel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little gem has some very important information for many of the people I know- including myself. It not only brings ideas and perspectives, but includes some very effective, practical and important exercises to help empathic people bring balance back to their lives. There is a great deal that Dave shared that resonated with me and gave me a valuable new perspective into myself and my relationship with people now in my life, and in the past. It's an easy read and well worth taking the time to do so.

[Lady Makaveli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book, great exercises... It's also so nice and reassuring to know this is real, and that there are ways or manage and control it so it doesn't overwhelm oneself. Every healer, empath, intuitive, etc should read this if struggling with letting go of the energy or etc we try to heal or take on for others.
Blessed book!

[PJ Hatfield Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light can get in!

My best friend suggested this book because she benefited from it. Gratitude flows profoundly for her taking that risk and holding my hand as I expressed my situation. The insight and practices in this small book are simple and helping me release childhood trauma and freeing me to be more truly helpful in my work, so thanks Kathy!!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short book with effective self protection practices essential for all empaths and lightworkers.

[S. Wigget · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bleh. Sneaking your monotheism into a book that is just supposed to be about protecting and grounding yourself as an empath is not okay.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insight into the life of an empath. I feel his "keyhole" exercise is one of the best ways to deal with other people's energy. A little wordy but the exercises are worth the read.

[Debbie Gartland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing . Felt like I was reading about my whole life

[Michele · Rating 1 out of 5]

Any time you think you are approaching helpful instruction or guidance, you are told that you probably have done it already…no, that’s why I bought this book. There is little useful information here. But there is dangerous misunderstanding of medicine and how the body works. It’s frustrating.

More than anything, it seems the author had personal issues to work out and wrote a book assuming we all held the experience when we don’t.

Really, if you just need a book on setting boundaries, then seek that. From someone who knows healthy ways to set them. If you are looking for a book on self care and guidance for HSPs and empaths? It’s quite absent here.

[Marie Mendilo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical guide to self care

The book is clear and concise in presenting the practical steps to self care. The promotion of the author’s services was distracting and counter intuitive. However, going past that, the book remains a valuable resource. Personally the keyhole, return to sender and recalibration are practical exercises that would likely be in my self-care toolbox for a long time. Dave, thanks for clearing the way for akin souls that could otherwise be difficult to navigate without the practical guide you share in your book.

[Rosalind · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do try to be open-minded, but when there are that many misplaced apostrophes floating about, it isn’t quite so easy.

That’s the shallow grammarian in me. Sadly, the rest of me didn’t resonate with the tone of the book either. But I’m sure that’s down to me needing to raise my vibrations.

I really respect the belief system encompassed in the book and I am going to try and implement some of the exercises. The proof of the pudding will need more time in the oven!

[Gina Spielman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for those who tend to take on the energies of others, like "emotional sponges", and those with chronic conditions (which tend to be the same types of people). The techniques for me were highly therapeutic and transformational. I found most of the information educational as well. In general, this book would be quite beneficial for those in the healing and helping professions, as well as those who identify themselves as having co-dependency. 5-stars!

[El · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I am a huge fan of Dave. I've felt intuitively drawn to his methods since I heard him speak at a symposium and as far as intuitive healers go - he's the real deal.

This is book is perfect in that it's perfectly to the point and never gets lost in preaching or navel gazing as some other authors do. It's also truly eye-opening for me as someone who has really struggled with my health as well as someone empathic. I think Dave is really onto something here!

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This book was exactly what I was looking for and what I needed it was life-changing I thank Dave From the bottom of my heart! If you are an empath and you have never been able to connect the dots this is a must read!

[Inna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soothing

Soothing read. I felt calm and relaxed reading this book. The author doesn’t waist your time with empty word, cuts to the chase and gives solid advice and short concise explanation. Helpful read.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really simple but effective exercises. It's a good, quick, easy read with very applicable tips.

[Emily Toninato · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little out there, but the core concepts were good. Feels similar to other things I've read just worded differently.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like I had my head around most of this content, but there were a couple of real gems in this that I needed to hear.

[Abbi]

******* better beware my keyhole

[Emily Wiseman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take what you need and leave the rest. An easy and helpful guide to healing your emotions and finding compassion for others without taking on their pain.

[Sudha P Jayaraman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful

Gave a good overview. Very helpful read. Was a quick and easy read. Got it on kindle which was convenient.

[Helen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good preamble about how it is to be a highly-tuned in being all of your life; through school, in your family and onwards. A useful set of tools for coping and releasing too. If theres any disappointment, I think I was expecting more and was surprised when the book was suddenly over; as someone who has evolved their own mechanisms over many years, I guess I was expecting more of what I didnt already know or have at my fingertips...but then it helped reaffirm how well I'm already doing and reminded me to celebrate all the plus-points too. I really wouldnt have it any other way than living the highly sensative life and any book that makes you appreciate that gets at least four stars from me.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely some big insights here for an empath who suffers anxiety and physical pain -- it may not be yours! Some interesting exercises for letting go of old burdens, but definitely written for an audience inclined toward spiritual readings and energy healing. That part is definitely not for me. Take what works and discard the rest -- but you will have some a-ha moments in the first half of the book.

[Veronica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kinda strange. Bought it on a whim not really knowing what to expect. In a nutshell, I read it in a few hours and kinda went: "Hmmm...I'm sure I've met people that would dig this way more than I did."
Basically I didn't get much from it at all, but I guess nothing is ever really a waste of time. How else can you try to better understand the many types of people out there? (Even if you disagree with a lot of their philosophies.)

[rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Came at the right time

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a deeper why as to why they are feeling the way they are. someone ready and open for change. you are exactly where you need to be. simple basic action steps to awareness and a healthier basis for life and healing

[AMBROSIA BERLIN PARR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

I am a full-time practicing massage therapist and I so often wondered why I have physical pains when I am in the best physical condition, eat clean, plenty of sleep, etc., this book really opened my eyes on what can happen when you do not protect yourself from other peoples energies and I never knew I was truly an empath.