You need to stop absorbing other people's energy. It serves you no purpose. I am also an empath, but I no longer absorb other's energy. At least I try not to. If I do, it is for a short time, as I clear it out.
Do not be a mirror. Observe, do not absorb. You are not being yourself while you are being a mirror. That doesn't mean you don't have empathy, but always remain true to yourself.
I would be averse to someone mirroring me back to me. I want to see the person, not some imitation of me that they are mirroring back to me. Yuck!
Even if someone was mirroring back to me my most wonderful loving self, I wouldn't see them as genuine. Be Yourself.