When I was a little girl I remember my mom telling me that I was way too sensitive. She wanted me to toughen up, not have things affect me so much. She would even read the books I was reading so that she would know what was presumably making me either morose or miserable. And we had many conversations about not letting friends or family “get to me”.
I would definitely retreat into my room early at night to read and was lucky enough to have the bedroom in the basement away from the “energy” of the rest of the family.
I was highly sensitive. And it was not okay.
You’ll probably already know if you’re highly sensitive.
And just in case you’re not sure, here’s a list of questions by Elaine Aaron who first started researching highly sensitive people in the 1990s:
- Are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby?
- Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time?
- Do you make a point of avoiding violent movies and TV shows?
- Do you need to withdraw during busy days, into bed or a darkened room, or some other place where you can have privacy and relief from the situation?
- Do you make it a high priority to arrange your life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations?
- Do you notice or enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, or works of art?
- Do you have a rich and complex inner life?
- When you were a child, did your parents or teachers see you as sensitive or shy?
Most of these characteristics sound like disadvantages, even weaknesses, that make the life of a highly sensitive person challenging. But what many people are less aware of are the incredible gifts that develop through high sensitivity. Intuition and healing are among the most common ones, but there are many others.
In fact, if you’re highly functional AND highly sensitive, you have a significant advantage, especially in business. You’ll find ways of operating that are kinder to people and the planet. You’ll communicate in ways that aren’t pushy or manipulative and your clients will be more relaxed as a result. You’ll have the ability to sense what’s going on long before others are aware, which enables you to make better decisions and respond quickly to what’s emerging.
If you’re intrigued by the opportunities that arise from being highly sensitive, I invite you to a free virtual summit hosted by author and educator, Sarah McCrum, called ENERGETICS For Highly Sensitive People, running from 4 to 8 October.
I’ve worked with Sarah myself, so I’m very familiar with her approach, which is why I’m recommending this event. She’s invited 5 experts to share their experience, and I know it will be an enlightening experience.
Please sign up for this free event HERE
