The Trait of High Sensitivity

You’ve heard it your entire life:

  • You’re too sensitive.
  • You’re too shy.
  • You’re just high-strung.
  • You’re weird.
  • What’s wrong with you?
  • You need to toughen up.
  • Don’t let it get to you.

No wonder life has felt like such a struggle.

Your nervous system is wired differently, and now research shows that your brain is different, too. If you have the genetic trait of high sensitivity, you do not have the same filters that others do, so sensory stimuli can sometimes overwhelm you. Lights are often too bright. Sounds are too loud. Clothes are too scratchy. Smells may make you physically ill. You may need a lot of quiet time and solitude to recharge.

f you are a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), you need to know first that there is nothing wrong with you. And you also need to know that as an HSP you possess gifts that can help our world. Alongside the challenges of being an HSP, there is another side to this trait—one you may want to liberate, cultivate, and celebrate.

As an HSP, you are likely to be:

  • Compassionate, empathic, and loyal
  • Highly conscientious, responsible, and punctual
  • Able to concentrate deeply
  • In possession of a strong appreciation for art, nature, and beauty in all forms
  • Intuitive
  • Detail-oriented and able to process material at a very deep level

According to Elaine Aron, Ph.D., author of The Highly Sensitive Person, HSPs are“unusually creative and productive workers, attentive and thoughtful partners, and intellectually gifted individuals.”

To make the most of your gifts, however, you need to know how to take care of yourself, how to honor yourself, and how to build on your inherent strengths. This is where coaching can be so valuable. With my help, you can learn to reframe the past and move forward in the present based on a deep understanding of what it means to be an HSP.

For a self-test to determine if you are indeed an HSP (though I suspect you already know if you are) please see: http://hsperson.com/test/

For a description of Sources of Sensitivity click here.

"I'm so incredibly grateful for the place I'm in at this moment, for myself, my girls, and everyone around me.  I also can't express my gratitude enough for all the help & guidance you provided me.  Though we only had a few conversations, you've made an immense impact on my self and I want you to know how much I appreciate it." 

— Joanne B.

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