The Ones Who Carry the Light: Why We Need Empaths and Radiant Souls More Than Ever

You know those people who just feel different? The ones who make you feel lighter just by being around them. The ones who somehow always know the right thing to say—or know when to say nothing at all and just sit with you in your messy, complicated humanness.

We call them empaths. Lightworkers. Healers. Sometimes, they’re artists. Musicians. Storytellers.

Some people might just say, “Oh, they’re such an old soul.” But once upon a time, in cultures all over the world, these weren’t just nice labels. These people were revered. They were the ones people turned to for wisdom, healing, and guidance. They were the keepers of stories, the interpreters of dreams, the ones who reminded their communities of something bigger than the daily grind.

Fast forward to today, and let’s be honest—being this kind of person can feel exhausting. Instead of being sought out for their wisdom, many empaths feel drained from holding space for everyone else. Lightworkers struggle to shine in a world that sometimes feels like it values cynicism over soul. Artists and musicians—the ones who translate emotion into something tangible, who help us see and feel more deeply—are often underappreciated, expected to create for free, or told their work isn’t “practical.”

The modern world isn’t exactly built to nurture those who lead with intuition, love, and deep emotional insight.

But here’s the thing—now, more than ever, we need them.

(And you might just be one of them.)

The Forgotten Role of the Light Bringers

There was a time when every village had its wise one, its healer, its storyteller. Whether it was a medicine woman, a shaman, an elder who shared hard truths with grace, or a musician who wove history into song—these people weren’t just appreciated. They were essential.

They weren’t weird. They weren’t “too sensitive.” They weren’t asked to toughen up or stop feeling so much. Their gifts weren’t just accepted; they were honored.

The artist who painted symbols of transformation on the walls of caves.
The poet who captured the grief of a people and turned it into something that could be held.
The musician whose song helped warriors remember what they were fighting for.
The storyteller who passed down wisdom so it would never be lost.

But somewhere along the way, especially in Western culture, we lost sight of that. The world started to value speed over depth, intellect over intuition—as if they were mutually exclusive. And in the process, the ones who could feel the heartbeat of the world, who could sense things unseen, were pushed to the margins.

Why We Need Them More Than Ever

Hard truth: The world feels heavy. People are exhausted, stressed, burnt out, and disconnected from themselves and each other. We’re more “connected” than ever through screens, yet somehow lonelier. Anxiety is on the rise. Compassion fatigue is real.

And this is exactly when the world needs its light-bringers the most.

We need the ones who remind us that slowing down isn’t lazy—it’s necessary.
We need the ones who listen—not just to respond, but to understand.
We need the ones who help us reconnect to meaning, to presence, to the idea that life is more than just checking things off a to-do list.

We need the artists, the musicians, the storytellers—the ones who show us the world through a different lens and remind us what it means to feel.

If you’re someone who feels everything, who carries light even when the world feels dark—this is your reminder that your presence matters. Your gift isn’t too much. It’s exactly what this world needs.

The Power of Choosing Your Circle

For me, this is also a reminder that, if nothing else, we get to choose who we surround ourselves with. We can choose to be around those who radiate warmth and kindness, the ones who make our souls feel safe and supported. We can choose the people who see us, who steady us, who remind us we’re not alone.

And this isn’t about making it easy on ourselves, quite the opposite—it’s about creating the kind of safety that allows us to be real. Because when we feel truly seen, we don’t have to pretend we’re always okay. We can be vulnerable. We can be human. And that’s where real strength lives.