Highly Sensitive People
I am an HSP – highly sensitive person. Those of us who fit this diagnosis are more aware of subtleties than others, can become overstimulated when things are chaotic, have increased emotional sensitivity, stronger reactivity to both external and internal stimuli—pain, hunger, light, and noise—and have a complex inner life.
Dr. Elaine Aron, a leading scientist studying the psychology of love and close relationships, began researching high sensitivity in 1991. She created a self-test that I discovered only six years ago after watching the documentary: Sensitive: The Untold Story.
In the past year of shut down and isolation, I noticed that, although I missed family, friends, hugging, in-person conversation, and visiting museums and bookstores, I actually handled the alone time relatively well. I consider myself a people person, yet I also thrive in silence and being alone in nature.
As a child I was labeled shy. I was sensitive to harsh words from others and environments that were chaotic. I always thought life was enormously profound and felt experiences deeply – Civil Rights injustices and police violence shook me to the core. In my twenties, I tried to develop a thicker skin to avoid taking things personally. I have learned to accept my sensitive nature and appreciate the positive qualities it brings. Highly sensitive people make excellent leaders because they miss nothing and are able to stand back while allowing team members to shine. I am proud this is true of my management style and the years I have been a CEO and COO of different companies.
Dr. Aron’s research has proved that HSP “is found in 15% to 20% of the population–too many to be a disorder, but not enough to be well understood by the majority of those around you.”[1]
Last summer I took an online course with Dr. Judith Orloff: Empath Intuitive Healing. Dr. Orloff gave us tools to further trust our intuition by listening to and fully inhabiting our bodies.
Some of you may be HSPs and may be teased and told you are too sensitive. You may not yet believe your intuition when it whispers. But, you are perfect just as you are. Trust yourself and know that your empathic nature is a gift.
“Sensitivity is a superpower…not a defect.” - Dani Korsh
“The outside world is loud and demanding so the first step in honing our powers is learning to deal effectively with sensory overload. We have to identify and manage the things that jam our inner guidance system. And that involves turning down the volume on the outside world so we can hear what's going on inside.”
― Anita Moorjani, Sensitive Is the New Strong: The Power of Empaths in an Increasingly Harsh World
