Sensitivity isn’t exactly prized as the hallmark of success and achievement in our society, but maybe it should be. Rather than relating to each other and the world through the callous lens of productivity, inauthenticity, and the competitive energy of never-enoughness, maybe we can shift.
Imagine a world where you can be You, in every shade of what that means. Imagine if you didn’t have to stifle your true nature, wounds, or opinions for the comfort of other people. Imagine if we prized the uniqueness and delicacy within one another rather than admonished it as being weak or ineffective.
We all have sensitivity within us, and we embody it differently depending on our temperament, trauma history, and emotional health. Highly sensitive people (or HSP’s) are identified as such because they have opened themselves to the truth of the depth and breadth of their sensitivity. Such individuals tend to feel more deeply, notice the world around them more acutely, and sense more profoundly. The world of a highly sensitive person is filled with a great deal of sensory data, and though it can come with challenges in our fast-paced world, it also comes with gifts. HSP’s tend to attune more authentically in relationships, nurture creativity with ease, and experience the nuances of life that others might miss.
If you identify as a highly sensitive person, there are a few things you need to know:
1: It is important that you protect your energy. HSP’s tend to also be empaths, which means that they not only feel their own experiences with immense depth and acuity, but that of others as well. It is easy for an empathic person to over-give or be drained by social connection or stimulating experiences. Attuning to yourself as though you had an energetic battery within is crucial. If you notice that your battery is running low, it is an indication that you need to pull your energy back toward yourself and replenish. As you navigate life as an HSP, you will start to notice that certain situations and people drain your battery more than others. You may choose over time to limit your contact with such experiences, or eliminate them all together. It is safe and healthy to shape your life around what feels generative, reciprocal, and respectful of your sensitivity.
2: You can trust your intuition. Your sensitivity is also your gift. This means that when you get a gut feeling or an intuitive sense, it’s probably right on par. It can take a while for an HSP to learn to dial-in and trust their intuitive senses, but the more you practice listening to your inner voice, the more it will speak to you. When you are a highly sensitive person, you are sensitive both internally and externally, which grants you access to notice and perceive things in special ways that can guide you. If you feel a sinking feeling in your chest every time you’re around that one particular friend or coworker, it’s no coincidence.
3: You need to give back to yourself more than you think. The world does not tend to be a tender and loving place for sensitive people—In fact, it often takes more than it gives. Until the rest of society can get on-board with the respect, tenderness, and depth of feeling that is your lived experience, you can nurture it for yourself. This means taking as much time, energy, effort, and care with filling your own cup. If you tend to be an over-giver, this is doubly important. Notice the different experiences of your life, and take note of what fills you and what drains you. If being around certain people generates a sense of warmth and connection within you, do more of that. If spending time in nature fuels you, get into nature every day. If you notice a rise in your energy levels at certain locations, in response to creative activities or intellectual conversations, follow the breadcrumbs toward your own toolbox for self-nurturance. It is not selfish to care for your needs. As a sensitive person, you need more nourishment of this kind because you give so much and sense so completely. Build your expectations for self-care to become a priority in your life, and you will feel the difference in your day-to-day wellbeing.
Whether you identify as an HSP or not, you’re undoubtedly sensitive to some capacity because you are a human being. Notice where in your life you feel the undercurrents of exhaustion, over-sensitization, and maladaptive coping. These are areas in your existence that need a little something extra from you. Regardless of how acute your sensitivities are, explore the experience of tending to yourself in this new attuned way.
Let me know how it goes! I would love to hear about your experiences. If you want to know more about my work, learn more here!
