UNLOCKING THE GIFTS OF BEING HIGHLY SENSITIVE

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Embrace Your Highly Sensitive Nature - 
Photo by Engin Akyurt: https://www.pexels.com

For as long as I can remember, I’ve known I was a sensitive person (which then I learned that not only was I a sensitive person, but a highly sensitive person). Yet, I often tried to deny this part of myself. In a society where sensitivity is sometimes viewed as a weakness, I grew up associating it with being “not fun,” “overly emotional,” or even “soft.” So, I kept it hidden, trying to mold myself into someone society might find more acceptable. But life has a funny way of showing us who we really are.

The turning point came when I began to embrace my sensitivity. Slowly, I realized it was more than just a quirk—it was a strength. My ability to deeply understand and empathize with others became a cornerstone of my work and personal relationships. I learned to listen not only to words but to unspoken feelings, and this enriched my life and my connections in ways I could never have anticipated. For a while, I felt at peace with this realization.

But the journey didn’t end there. Not long ago, I stumbled across a video on one of my favorite YouTube channels, Malama Life. Sophie, the creator, shared a deeply personal story about being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) which video you can watch here. Like me, she’d wrestled with the societal stigma around sensitivity. What resonated most, though, was how she turned her perspective around and highlighted the gifts of being highly sensitive. Sophie’s journey reminded me of my own, but it also added a layer of understanding I hadn’t yet uncovered.

Also read: Why Leaving My 9-5 Job Was the Best Decision for Peace and Success

In the video, Sophie recommended a book: The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron. Intrigued, I bought the book immediately. However, life had other plans, and amidst the chaos of packing and unpacking for an upcoming move, it sat on my shelf, waiting for its turn. Still, Sophie's story and the brief moments I’d spent exploring the idea of being an HSP stayed with me, coloring my experiences in ways I hadn’t noticed before.

One of those moments came recently. Someone dear to me had a heated argument with her husband, leading to a highly emotional decision. The air between them felt charged and heavy, and as someone deeply attuned to emotions, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of it all. My instinct was to help, to ease the tension and offer comfort, but I knew it wasn’t the time. Words wouldn’t reach them, not then. I was forced to sit with my own helplessness and the raw intensity of their pain.

For days, their sorrow echoed in my heart. It wasn’t easy to accept that there was nothing I could do. I wished desperately for a way to mend their bond, to bring harmony back to their lives. And yet, in that struggle, I found a moment of clarity. I realized that maybe what they needed most was space—to breathe, to reflect, to understand the value of what they had built together. My sensitivity, which once felt like a curse, gave me this insight. I saw the potential for growth even in their pain, and that thought brought me a measure of peace.

Also read: From Self-Criticism to Self-Love: My Story of Discovering Self-Worth

This experience taught me something profound. Being highly sensitive isn’t just about feeling deeply—it’s about learning to channel those feelings into something constructive. It’s about balancing empathy for others with compassion for yourself. And it’s about recognizing the beauty in accepting situations as they are, even when they feel overwhelming.

So, as I continue my journey of self-discovery, I’m learning to fully embrace what it means to be an HSP. I’m allowing my sensitivity to guide me rather than hinder me, whether that means taking time to reflect, supporting loved ones with patience, or simply stepping back when the moment calls for it. And when life slows down a bit, I’ll pick up Elaine Aron’s book and dive deeper into what it truly means to thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person.

If you’ve ever felt weighed down by your own sensitivity or struggled to fit into a world that often prizes resilience over vulnerability, know this: there’s strength in sensitivity. There’s power in understanding others deeply and in feeling the world with your whole heart. And most importantly, there’s grace in learning to accept yourself—fully and unapologetically.

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