Holystic Essential's Website
More About HSPs
So What Is An HSP?
by Katy
According to
Webster's dictionary, the definition of the word, "sensitive" reads as
follows:
1. endowed with sensation; having perception through the senses.
2. readily
or excessively affected by external agencies or influences.
3. having acute mental or emotional sensibility, aware of and responsive
to the feelings of others.
4. easily pained, annoyed, etc.
5. pertaining to or connected with the senses or sensation.
6. Physiol. having a low threshold of sensation of feeling.
7. responding to stimuli, as leaves that move when touched.
8. highly responsive to certain agents, as photographic plates, films, or paper.
9. affected or likely to be affected by a specified stimulus (used in combination): price-sensitive markets.
10. involving work, duties, or information of a highly delicate nature, esp. in government: a sensitive position in the State Department.
11. Requiring tact or caution, delicate, touchy, a sensitive topic.
12. constructed to indicate, measure, or be affected by small amounts or changes, as a balance or thermometer.
13. Radio. easily affected by external influences, esp. by radio waves.
14. a person who
is sensitive
15. a person with psychic powers, medium.
According to psychologist and author, Elaine Aron, an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) is someone who is born with a different kind of a nervous system, a highly sensitive nervous system, a system that is "wired" differently. Psychologist, Carl Jung, called it innate sensitiveness. So it is really nothing new, just a newly defined trait, which has been thoroughly researched by Dr. Aron.
Most of the above definitions from Webster's dictionary seem to be positive. Why then do some people associate the word "sensitive" with being easily offended, or weak? Dr. Aron states in her book that she debated on what to call the trait. High sensitivity is not the same as shyness, nor is it the same as introversion. In fact, HSPs "come in" extroverts as well as introverts. So she coined the term "HSP" (highly sensitive person) in hopes that people would not have negative or preconceived ideas about the word "sensitive", but would view it in a more positive way; seeing it as a positive trait, or even a gift.
To be
sensitive also means to be able to feel deeply, to be tuned in and
aware, to be more appreciative of the finer things in life. It
means to have a great appreciation and ability to just be in the silence,
listening to the voice of Wisdom.
.
The Positive Aspects of Being a Highly Sensitive Person
by Katy
If you have taken Dr. Elane Aron's self test, or have read her book, "The Highly Sensitive Person", and found out that you are an HSP, you may wonder, "where do I go from here."
You may be tempted to bemoan your newly discovered trait, after the initial "relief " of knowing there is nothing "wrong" with you. Depending on your background , upbringing, age, present health and other factors, you may or may not have some "work" to do. If you had a loving supportive environment as a child, maybe you need only learn how to STAY healthy, or how to discover and use your unique gifts.
If you had an unfavorable or abusive childhood you may have to "reframe" your past, to go back and look at each hurtful or even traumatic experience in a new and different light - in the light of your newly discovered trait of "HSP".
To help you to do this I recommend Elaine Aron's second book, "The Highly Sensitive Person's Workbook", where you will find in depth information on how to look at your past in a new way. You will receive healing. You will learn how to deal with many different types of situations in your life. And as Dr. Aron says, you can even learn how to thrive when the world overwhelms you.
The purpose of this web page, is to share what I have learned and to help you too, to think of yourself in a new light, to see yourself as a very special type of person with talents and gifts, and how you can contribute to the world in your own unique way. I personally think that HSPs are "appearing" at this particular time in history to be the intuitives, the counselors, the listeners (and don't underestimate that one!) the problem solvers, the healers, the empaths, the Lightworkers, the mystics.. and what Dr. Aron calls the "priestly advisors." The world needs "HSPs" now more than ever! And that includes YOU!
To help you to achieve your highest potential as a "HSP", above all, I would like to show you how you can be healthy and whole and how you can become the person you were meant to be.. full of Life, Light and Love.
So now that you know your innate
worth, let's talk about some of the more specific abilities and qualities that
HSPs have:
1. HSPs are deep thinkers
2. HSPs are highly perceptive
3. HSPs have an acute Awareness
4. HSPs have the ability to empathize, to feel deeply
5. HSPs have Psychic Abilities. In fact psychics are also known as "sensitives".
7. HSPs are peace loving people.
8. HSPs have a special ability to give wise counsel
9. Many HSPs have gifts of healing; many have a special healing touch.
10 Many HSPs have the gift of discernment.
11. HSPs are highly creative.
12. HSPs are nurturing; are good with children, pets, and the elderly.
What are your talents and
gifts?
More Thoughts on Being an "HSP"
by Joy
As much as we would all like to fit into everything, we have to face the fact that we are different than others and we live on a different plane or wavelength than others. This is what makes us HSPs. Our nervous systems were made differently than others and when we get too much stimulus overload we get overwhelmed and will start overreacting to things until finally we will shut down. This is when we need to be alone, eat something nourishing and do things we enjoy doing as well as just get some rest. This is necessary to regenerate the energy we have lost. It is so easy for HSPs to give away their energy to others without realizing what is going on. It is like everyone we come into contact with has an invisible tentacle and is sucking out our energy, or emotional vampirism. When this happens we feel fatigued and drained of all our energy. Again it is very necessary to be alone and get some rest when this happens. Over a period of time, any person who is controlled by others will walk with stooped shoulders and look down at the ground most of the time. Their confidence level is zero as well as their self-esteem. They will see themselves as ugly even when they are in fact beautiful. This is called having a Distorted Body Image. Regardless of how much people tell them they are beautiful they cannot see this; like a bulimic person who is very skinny, but sees themselves as very fat.
We will always be able to sense and perceive things that others cannot. All or most of our senses will always be heightened in some way, such as lights bothering our eyes and causing us to need to wear sunglasses, use softer light bulbs, or blinds on our windows that block out the sunlight. We can smell odors others cannot; noises will bother us more because we hear on a different level than others do, our skin and body inside and out will be more sensitive to tactile feelings, such as bruising easily, startling easily, being nervous or anxious, suffering depression, fabrics not being able to be tolerated on our skin, sensitivities to products, foods, drinks, and medication.
So
please, my dear HSPs friends, do NOT feel guilty for simply being HSP. There is
nothing you can do to stop being this way. The best thing we can do is try to
balance our emotions, (which can change in a heartbeat), as some of us are
highly reactive to our environment. Not all HSPs will feel these same ways but
most of us feel all of the above and sometimes even more. I am mentioning
only a few traits HSPs can have. Most of us HSPs are very kind and gentle
people and would never dream of hurting anyone's feelings. We may not have
many true friends because we can sense things about others that makes them feel
uncomfortable around us. They know that we have the ability to see into their
innermost thoughts and feelings. So it is nothing we are doing to make
people not want to be friends, it is that we are just different than they are..
We seem to intimidate others without intending to do so. The best we can hope
for is to find a few people who are like us and educate them to what being an
HSP is all about. Just doing that much could have a tremendous effect on
people. I will be glad when the world learns that Sensitives are
just a different "breed" of people that help to keep this world a much
nicer place.
And the Greatest of These is
Love
HSPs and Love, by Jaki
I have always been shown how much my parents care about me with material love ,rather than emotional and physical. For a long time in my life I couldn't accept hugs or compliments.... and in many other ways I was deeply affected by it. I hadn't learnt about real love ... I didn't know what it was, but I felt its absence very much. I don't think it was until years later, after a very troubled journey in life, (due to this search for love) did I work out that my parents were this way because of their own hang ups and unhealed damage to their souls..... and if I didn't heal myself, the chain would continue, I didn't know how to love ,or show it, and so I had to learn.......and learn I did.
I learnt to love and value myself because nobody else gave me what I needed. I found it easy to give love. It has always been my nature to do so. I will help out or do anything for anyone, but I realized I wasn't doing the same for myself, and so I started to do so... and started a journey inward to discover who I was. I saw myself in others. (Other people can often mirror you). You can learn so much about yourself from seeing your traits in others and this leads to the point where, if you can unconditionally love everyone you meet , then you can love yourself; and when you love yourself, you open up like a flower.... and people buzz round you like a bee ...
We all give off a certain vibe, and everybody, knowingly or not, can pick up on what people are feeling (HSP's just have a heightened perception to this), and so if you feel down on yourself it's a drain on other people and if you are up, you can bring other people up too.... Generally speaking, you draw into your life that which you are thinking or feeling and when you make steps to change, the change will come. It is always hard to find friends who will stick around when you are going through a difficult time in your life, but the rare people who you will meet are those too, who have the ability to love unconditionally, and those rare people will be few, but a very treasured gift, and that is why sometimes it is a very lonely life being HSP...., as we seem to be a rare breed.... But the positive side is that we have the ability to grasp and understand so much about life - its meaning - and about the ecstasy it can bring if we find the inner strength to get past the hurt we feel - to build on it, to become stronger and wiser for it , and find eventual freedom to live a joyous and spiritual life..... We can all break those chains that bind us to unhappiness; we can break free and help others to do the same, and make this world (our home) a better place to live in....
Sunny sprinkles to you all.
The Emotionally Strongest People in the World
By Patricia B Monroe, PhD ~ Life Coach
In my opinion, the emotionally
strongest people in the world are those who are sensitive down to the core of
their being. They orchestrate their life so that inner sensitivity thrives,
considering it an asset instead of a liability. Deep compassion is felt for
those who don't understand this level of sensitivity, yet these emotionally
sensitive empowered people know when to utilize personal boundaries, when to say
"nah" to the nay Sayers who simply don't understand the gift of
sensitivity, and when to stand strong in a sea of insensitive chaos.
I have come to understand there is absolutely no such thing as being too
sensitive. Each life experience I have had gives me the opportunity to increase
my level of sensitivity in some way. Sensitivity is a strength to be honored,
cherished, and appreciated. After all those years of self-defeating attitudes
and efforts of trying to become less sensitive, I treasure the fact that it
never worked. Right now, I am ultra sensitive: I cry instantaneously; I am
empathic to my core; and I am able to feel God in the smallest of life forms,
the majesty of the Earth, or even when looking deeply into the eyes of those who
harm others. It's just the way I was created to be. I would not have it any
other way
Comments from Readers
"I read the book by Elaine Aron some time ago. I was looking for inspiration and came upon your site by chance today. Great reading........" ~ Anonymous in England
"I found when researching HSP it was basically the same half dozen web sites coming up.. but I knew there must be more...and found yours. It's a very nice site.. much more personal. Well done." ~ Anon.
"Thank you...and especially for your interest and support of us "sensitives"! Much appreciation for your special contribution....Many blessings, much peace and unending joy." ~ Karen