In a world that often values being assertive, success-driven and tough being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) can oftentimes feel like a challenge. You can find yourself feeling misunderstood, or being labelled as “too sensitive.” This can lead to you feeling isolated or doubting yourself.
You may feel pressured to conform to societal norms that don’t align with your true nature. The fear of being judged or dismissed can make it difficult for us sensitive souls to fully express ourselves. I know for myself, I can find myself focusing on the challenges instead of seeing the whole picture.
Seeing our sensitivity, far from being a burden, is a quiet strength we have within us—a deep well of empathy, creativity, and wisdom. It’s a gift that gives us a unique perspective on life, allowing us to experience the world with a richness and depth that others might miss.
What Does It Mean to Be a Highly Sensitive Person?
Being a Highly Sensitive Person means you experience life more intensely. You notice the subtle details around you, feel emotions deeply, and often take time to process your thoughts and feelings. While this can sometimes lead to feeling overwhelmed, it also opens the door to a more vibrant and meaningful life.
1. An Empathy Heart
As an HSP, your heart is in tune with the emotions of those around you. You feel others’ joys and sorrows as if they were your own. This deep empathy allows you to offer comfort, understanding, and love in ways that are truly healing. The world needs more people like you—those who can listen with compassion and connect with others on a profound emotional level.
If you look back on your life can you remember times when you have made a difference in another's life just by being your beautiful compassionate sensitive self? Maybe you listened deeply when they had a problem to share or you gave them a long warm embrace when they were down or you stayed with an animal and took care of it when it was sick, afraid or alone?
2. A Mind Enriched with Creativity
Your sensitivity is a rich ground for creativity. You see beauty where others might see the mundane, and your imagination is a place where ideas blossom. Whether you express this through art, writing, music, or simply the way you live your life, your creativity is a precious gift that brings light and rich colour to the world.
3. A Soul Guided by Intuition
Your heightened sensitivity gives you an intuitive understanding of the world around you. You often sense things that go unnoticed by others—a change in someone’s mood, the subtle energy of a place, or the unspoken emotions in a conversation.
This intuition is like an inner compass, guiding you with a quiet wisdom that helps you navigate life’s challenges. We can easily ignore this inner guidance as it is not something that is talked about in our modern society, but it is always there quietly waiting to be listened to.
When we can learn to tune into this intuition and allow it to guide our actions and our next steps in the direction we wish to go in life.
A big part of my work as an Emotional Health Coach, EFT Practitioner and Holistic Therapist is to help my sensitive clients reconnect with their intuition and help them find their own answers from that deep well of wisdom. It is right there waiting to be quite literally tapped into.
One of my clients a sensitive healing soul came to me struggling with issues of unworthiness and shame. This is what she wrote:-
“Before working together, I was experiencing old childhood feelings of unworthiness and shame re-surfacing. After the first session, a deeper sense of peace returned and I felt more at home in myself.
Since working together, I have noticed a deeper settling into myself which has influenced how I relate to myself, and others and how I choose to walk in this world. My confidence has been renewed in subtle and obvious ways and I feel at ease being me” Alison
4. An Appreciation for the Simple Pleasures of Life
As a sensitive soul, you find joy in the small things—a gentle breeze, the sound of rain, the beauty of a sunset. Your ability to appreciate these moments brings a sense of peace and fulfilment that many people long for. By savouring life’s simple pleasures, you remind us all to slow down and find beauty in the world around us.
5. A Deep Commitment to Integrity
With your sensitivity comes a strong sense of morality and a deep commitment to doing what’s right. You are guided by your values, and you often feel a strong desire to stand up for fairness and justice. Your integrity shines through in everything you do, making you someone others can trust and look up to.
6. A Journey of Self-Discovery
Being highly sensitive means you often spend time reflecting on your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This introspection leads to profound self-awareness and personal growth. While the path of self-discovery can be challenging, it is also incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to live authentically and in harmony with your true self.
I began my journey of self-discovery long before I realised I was highly sensitive. I had experienced a lot of trauma in my early years growing up and I was looking for anything that would help me to heal and to find myself under the layers of trauma, abuse and neglect.
What I did discover was as a highly sensitive I took those events that impacted me deeply and intensely. I also was acutely aware of the pain and suffering others around me were experiencing as I could feel it as my own.
I knew I didn't want to shut myself off from these feelings but at the same time, it was deeply painful like walking around with an open wound. I found when I started healing, especially with somatic practices like EFT Tapping and working with the body, I found my sensitivity became less acute and I became more resilient.
I discovered my inner strength without shutting off or shutting down. I could still embrace all my gifts as a sensitive without being overwhelmed all the time. This gave me real insight into how trauma is intrinsically linked to high sensitivity.
7. A Life Filled with Meaningful Connections
You value deep, meaningful relationships over superficial ones. Your sensitivity allows you to connect with others on a soul-deep level, forming bonds that are nurturing and supportive. These connections bring a sense of belonging and remind you that, even in a world that sometimes feels overwhelming, you are never truly alone. You may find you are drawn to other sensitive souls and finding your tribe or your community is key.
Embracing Your Sensitivity
If you are a Highly Sensitive Person, know that your sensitivity is not a flaw—it is a beautiful and powerful part of who you are. The world needs your gentle heart, your creative mind, and your intuitive soul. Embrace your sensitivity with kindness and compassion, and let it guide you toward a life filled with love, purpose, and joy.
In a world that can often be harsh and unyielding, your sensitivity is a balm—a source of light and warmth that has the power to heal and inspire. Cherish it, nurture it, and let it be a beacon that guides you on your journey through life.
In my next article, I will share the challenges you may face as a highly sensitive person and how to turn them around and allow them to help you grow and thrive.
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Carolina Kerridge,
LLB (Hons), Holistic Therapist, Certified Accredited Advanced EFT Practitioner, NLP and Life Coach, Energy Healer, Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher at the Heartstream Wellness Centre and Clinic in Richmond, New Zealand.
I specialise in working with sensitives, HSPs, and empaths with navigating their lives through stress, anxiety, trauma, self-worth, addictions and relationship issues.
I seek to empower others to live confident, fulfilling, and enriching lives.
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