
[This is Part 3 of the ongoing ‘Wisdom for Empaths & Sensitives’ series. If you haven’t already, you’ll want to read the intro article first – you’ll find it here. The second post in this series shared more on these types of dynamics and highlighted the toxic-normal pattern of ‘Offloading’.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the toxic-normal pattern of Leveling.]
Given the seemingly uncanny timing involved in this toxic-normal pattern, Leveling is one of the more unnerving, frustrating, and intriguing of the patterns I’ve seen in play, both from my own experience and in the experiences shared by empathic-sensitive friends and clients.
With the strategy or tactic of leveling, the person will act out when the empathic-sensitive (or other person in the relationship or dynamic) is gaining a sense of momentum or is celebrating progress or an achievement of some sort, or has shared a compelling, exciting vision with the other.
The leveling behavior-tactic seemingly aims to deflate, drain energy, and stop momentum, shifting the focus, attention, and thus your energy back to him or her (and away from the positive momentum, exciting vision, ‘good news’, etc.).
(A reminder: It’s important to realize that while some people might employ these manipulative and ultimately abusive tactics purposely, I mentioned in the earlier articles of this series that these toxic-normal behaviors and dynamics are more likely operating unconsciously as a habitual strategy adopted or learned early in life.)
Like many of these toxic-normal behavior strategies, these are some of the less fortunate ‘side effects’ of disowning one’s shadow and thus projecting onto others rather than doing one’s own shadow work.
These tactics are usually ‘default strategies’ of those who habitually engage in energy vampiring, offloading, and some of the other toxic-normal psycho-energetic dynamics (introduced in the first article of this ‘Wisdom for Empaths & Sensitives‘ series).
What might leveling look like in a typical interaction?
Let’s say you’ve been working on a new offering for your business, and experience a week where you receive some very encouraging responses and several new clients. Or perhaps you’ve received word of a bonus or promotion in your job, or news that an article you’ve written will be published, or even just returned from a highly enjoyable day visiting with a friend. You get the gist.

You’re happy, excited, encouraged, and it shows on your face and emanates from your body language. Naturally, you share that happy news with the leveler (a term I use here for easier identification), who may even say ‘Congratulations’ or otherwise act as if they share your excitement. But the timer is set. Tick tock, it’s just a matter of time.
Whether an hour later, or minutes, or the next day, the leveler lobs a stink-bomb into your court by way of an attack, well-timed drama … a behavior chosen for its proven ability to deflate your mood, drain the energy, and shift the momentum, leveling your energy, mindset, and the dynamic downward.
If you’ve experienced it, you’ll recognize it immediately in this description.
Again, the point isn’t to perpetuate the bully-victim or perpetrator-victim cultural norm or dynamic, but to recognize unhealthy, toxic-normal conditioned patterns and begin to change our own conditioned-participation, approach, and reaction to them, thus shifting the pattern in favor of something healthier and more self-respecting. It’s deep yet worthy practice.
If you’ve read the previous two articles in this series, then you’ll already know that these toxic-normal patterns are usually acted out unconsciously, as a result of early conditioning and ongoing reinforcement in Dominator-type cultures. (And you’ll have seen the requisite disclaimer that this information is not intended to be psychotherapeutic in nature; it’s drawn from experience and the research and learning that comes with it.)
The patterns or strategies I’m highlighting — offloading, leveling, etc. — are, according to many psychologists and most psychological summaries, often part of habitual narcissistic, passive-aggressive, sociopathic, psychic- or energy vampiring, and/or similar behavior patterns to which the empathic-sensitive person is conditioned to ‘participate’ with or complement, albeit unwittingly. It’s just what feels normal, albeit what I call toxic normal.
First recognition, and then…
Once you begin to track the patterns and choose different responses, which takes practice but is well worth it, you notice that confidence, energy, and a sense of real empowerment begin to be restored.
In the next article in this ‘Wisdom for Empaths & Sensitives’ series, I’ll highlight the next toxic-normal pattern — scapegoating, which often goes hand-in-hand with a bullying or similar dynamic.
If you missed the first two articles of this series, you’ll find the intro here and the second article on offloading here.
And you’ll find the existing motherlode of current articles in the Resources for Empaths & Sensitives here.
Until next time!
Big Love on the Way,
These posts are based in direct experience, client and colleague experience, energy, and shamanic approaches; they’re not psychotherapy, nor are they offered as such.
August 13, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Dear Jamie, I am a huge fan of your blog .. and you! Somehow, your posts have a way of ‘finding me’ … whenever I land on one of your posts, new or old, it ‘just happens’ to coincide perfectly with my current needs. As with this one! Yesterday I was drafting an email with a question for you … then today I found this post open in one of my browser tabs! It touches upon my question, which I’ll ask here: Is it possible that a Healer or Coach — or anyone in a healing / helping / mentoring role — would use this leveling tactic on a client?
I recently walked away from a 2-year relationship with a shamanic/energy healer and spiritual coach because I could no longer rationalize away several confusing and consistent behaviors (eg, Lots of inconsistencies between words and actions; flatly ignoring, dismissing and/or talking right over me whenever I tried sharing a ‘cool’ story of synchronicity and spirit; subtle but cutting ‘digs’ in emails, etc). It felt almost as if she were jealous?? However, I still find myself doubting my myself, thinking, “no, it couldn’t possibly be true…”
It’s so hard to grasp the idea that people would, could be capable of such insidious and harmful actions — especially when they bill themselves as helpers and healers. (As you might have guessed, this isn’t the first time I’ve trusted a non-safe person. It’s a lifelong pattern I’m just now discovering. The question now is, how do I stop this pattern? It just seems to ‘happen’; these unsafe people kind of “fall into my lap”. I don’t seek them out. How can I get some safe people to fall in my lap? How do I know who I can trust?
August 13, 2014 at 5:18 pm
Greetings, Mo. Murph! Many thanks for taking the time to share your comment and query, and also for the kind words. I’m so glad that you’re resonating with the blog and my work … thank you! And it’s really cool, too, when those ‘shiny breadcrumbs’ or synchronicities happen that put the right post in front of you at the right time. (I love when that happens.)
I’m going to answer your query via a direct email, but because others may also find your question and experience relevant, I’ll share a brief perspective here. You asked:
>> Is it possible that a Healer or Coach — or anyone in a healing / helping / mentoring role — would use this leveling tactic on a client? <<
Yes, it’s very possible. I’ve experienced it myself and, after seeing that it was a pattern (rather than a bad day or month … it happens to the best of us), had to step away or change the relationship.
As with other fields or areas of livelihood/dharma, there are also healers and spiritual teachers and so on who perhaps haven’t done or aren’t doing their own work (which is an ongoing thing, particularly in these fields and particularly in these wild times). There are also varying degrees of commitment, awareness, integrity, etc.
But that’s a general response or perspective to your excellent query. The nuances and details of the patterns and circumstances are something to delve into more fully to unravel what’s really at play here, what’s really coming into awareness.
You’re very astute to ask whether it’s possibly a lifelong pattern which is now revealing itself to you, and that you’re seeing! Yay! It’s not unusual; in many cases they’re long-ingrained and inherited patterns. We can’t change other people or make someone do the work or be more in integrity or whatever it is, but we can change our awareness and response to the patterns when they show themselves to us.
That’s where we begin to spiral up and also reclaim our own energy and power — when we begin to recognize the patterns in play and asking the great questions (which doesn’t change the disappointment and sometimes shock we feel when these situations come up in our experience … it’s not fun!).
More via direct email to your last questions.
Love,
Jamie
August 13, 2014 at 5:37 pm
p.s. Just sent the expanded reply via direct email to you, Mo.
August 13, 2014 at 10:27 pm
Thank you, thank you, so much Jamie! Your words of genuine understanding, support and encouragement are like salve on an open wound. How kind of you to respond so quickly, and also personally. I am heading to my email now … Big thanks and love to you! , mo
August 13, 2014 at 11:01 pm
You’re most welcome, Mo. It’s my pleasure, truly. The conversation continues … 🙂 Love, Jamie