Highly Sensitive Positive Traits + Most Difficult Challenges by Jade Eeles

June 2, 2022 Guest Post

Guest article by Jade Eeles

Here is a sample of the top responses from a recent poll of highly sensitive people (HSPs) and members of the Sensitive Empowerment Community:

Creative/creativity understanding it, and when it is flowing, high levels of creativity
Empathy/Empathic
Compassion
Intuitive/conscious awareness, ‘6th sense’
Vision/envisioning opportunities, possibilities for ourselves + others
Deep feelers
Good Listeners
Deep thinking & thoughtful
Noticing + seeing beauty in many things in the world, nature, & surroundings
Integrity
Friendliness
Loving deeply
Zest & passion for life experiences
Sensory pleasures with scents, incense, candles, aromatherapy, taste/foods/drink, feel-good textures/fabrics
Attention to detail
Ability to pick up others’ energy
Love of connection (including people/relationships)
Aware of subtleties in the environmental surroundings, people, sensory awarenesses, and more information that others miss
Sensory recall
Emotional sensitivity + development ~ emotionally sensitive + intelligent (EQ)
I know things, learning to trust in my knowing
Connection with nature + animals
Noticing details in nature
Joy being in nature brings
Appreciate that I pick up on subtleties, being in tune to other people’s needs
Tuned in to people, easy to find detail to connect on + harmony in a group
Reasonable + objective communication seeing situations clearly for what they are
Seeing all sides of things I like that I’ve considered every option and possibility
Quiet + caring

Happy with, and the need for alone time ~ process, rest, reduce overwhelm
Differences in self-care + individual needs for healthy balance and wellness (HSP way)
In addition to the SEC ~ Helpful tools, training + courses to support HSPs to thrive, reduce anxiety, overwhelm + more.

Here is a sample of the top responses from a recent poll of highly sensitive people/HSPs + members of the Sensitive Empowerment Community:

Overwhelm (sensory, energetic overload)
Self-blame + shame
Intense feelings
Multitasking, being rushed + watched
Decision making
Tension + tightness throughout my body
Overstimulation from too many busy thoughts, worries from being nervous
Feeling more hurt, than joy
Feeling fragile sometimes, need lots of downtime and space to reflect
A high volume of uncomfortable physical sensations (balance/swing of under + overstimulation)
External noise, chaos, light, other’s emotions, cities, shared spaces
Not letting go of the behavior of others that are less compassionate
Suppressing feelings
Being/feeling misunderstood, assuming I will be misunderstood
Too empathetic, in tune with the pain and feelings of others (I get overwhelmed by it)
People pleasing
Lack of self-love
Maintaining boundaries
See + feel pain and suffering in the world
Self-compassion
Perfectionism, self-criticism
Overthinking
Withdraw, pace, or push ourselves + our energy levels
The world is less supportive/not designed for the SPS trait + HSPs
Finding a sustainable good fit, and getting it right as an HSP + at the highest end of the sensitivity scale in schooling, education/training, job/careers/workplaces
Anxiety (10%+), anxiety + depression (80%+), including overwhelm from anxiety/caused by overwhelm
Susceptibility to issues in general health, mental health + chronic illness (E.g. fibromyalgia, autoimmunity, digestion, burnout, sleep issues, anxiety, depression, major depression)

It’s a package deal, highly sensitive positive traits + challenges as an HSP
Self-care, self-compassion, honoring our needs, pace/protecting our energy for balance, wellness, and burnout prevention
In addition to the SEC ~ Helpful tools, training, resources + courses to support HSPs to thrive, advocate, grow, be empowered, and bloom to their highest potential + more

Jade Eeles

Sensitive Empowerment Community Member + Ambassador