Episode 147: Believing and Trusting in Ourselves as HSPs with Willow and Julie

Listen Now

Resources & Links Mentioned in Episode

• Join the Sensitive Empowerment Community, take Julie’s free Masterclasses for HSPs, and explore all resources for highly sensitive people at www.juliebjelland.com.

• Read Willows Blog post: How to Reveal Your Innate Expertise as an HSP

• Find an HSP Therapist, Healer, Coach on our HSP Practitioners Directory

• Explore all episodes and connect to us at HSPpodcast.com 

Show Notes

We often hear how important it is that we believe in ourselves, yet what if we are struggling to make something happen? It is all too easy to slip into self-doubt and a spiral of negative beliefs. One of the greatest resources we have as HSPs is our commitment to our growth and development. Also, our tenacity to pursue our personal evolution and what is most important to us in the world. When it comes to believing and trusting ourselves there are some very useful tools and techniques we can use that help us to access this in any and all circumstances. For instance, when we allow ourselves to look back over our lives we will see that have evolved and we have grown through many challenges. There is a great deal of evidence of us finding a way and being successful. Even if those examples may not be to the degree we wanted, the evidence is there nonetheless. In this episode, we take a look at why it is important not to be over-critical when we are in transition or doing our best to achieve something important. Instead by recognizing the deeper truth of our ability we can access and develop a reliable source of trust and belief in ourselves.

---

Transcript

Transcription by Kristin Cole 

Julie: Welcome everyone to a live recording of the HSP podcast. I am Julie Bjelland and joined by Willow McIntosh. Hello Willow!

Willow: Hey Julie, great to be here! 

Julie: We were just talking before we started. I really want to send some love to the Sensitive Empowerment Community family who’s joining us live and we just love you guys so much. We were having the most beautiful conversation about how much this community means to us. 

I also wanted to say before we get started on today’s episode. I wanted to share my heart for a moment because as some of you know, I’ve been having some health challenges over the last couple months and the members in the community have really blown me away with their love and their support. We’ve had so many volunteers step in and want to help, want to contribute, want to give back in some way to this community. It has meant the world to me that you all are sharing your hearts and your love like that with this community. It means so much to me. 

I also wanted to say that I wasn’t even sure I was able to do this episode today but I think that your love and your energy and even our podcast listeners, I want to say to you – those of you that have written reviews about the podcasts, I’ve read all those reviews and it means so much to me. Those of you that have written in about what the podcast episodes have meant to you, what our stories have meant to you, have really touched me. 

To the mom out there if you’re listening that wrote recently and said that through some post-partum challenges that you listened to a podcast episode every day and that has gotten you through. I want to send love to you and just say that your messages mean a lot to us and it helps us know to keep going. It helps us know that this is important to you. Thank you for sharing the podcast with other HSPs. It’s growing all over the world and it just means so much to me. So, I wanted to share that today. Do you want to say anything about that, Willow, before we get going? 

Willow: Beautiful, it’s so lovely to hear that, Julie. The fact that we’ve been able to support you and just how much you mean to all of us, it’s beyond words. I think that’s really come through and the community has just been such an amazing support. It means so much for us to be there for you. And yes, a huge thank you to everyone who supports us, and the wonderful things you write, it really does make a difference. So thank you.

Julie: Aww, that touched me, almost made me cry before we even start. 

Willow: Let’s try to keep it together before we begin the episode. 

Julie: Thank you, that really meant a lot, thank you, and I just love you all. Elisha says “Never stop the podcasts!” Keep sharing please, everybody keep sharing because that’s how we know this podcast is important to you and seeing it grow. So yes, let’s get to today’s episode titled ‘Believing and trusting in ourselves as HSPs.’ Willow, you picked this topic today so please lead us in. 

Willow: Yes, absolutely. So this is a key area that I have found certainly in my own experience and working with wonderful HSPs that I have over the years. The term ‘do we believe in ourself?’ it’s something that we hear so regularly and we’re always being told how important it is to believe in ourselves. I absolutely agree with that. It is super important that we are believing in ourselves for the person that we’re trying to become, the work that we want to do in the world and the commitment to what’s most important to us about that work, about our families. 

And yet, many of us as HSPs do struggle with self-doubt and low self-esteem. We were misunderstood as children and we have to work really hard to gain that sense of self and that trust in ourselves. 

So in this episode I wanted to talk a little bit about what we mean when we say ‘we believe in ourselves’. One of the things I’ve found that’s really helped me over the years, especially when I’m having a difficult time or I’m trying to work on a new project, and it’s either not unfolding as I want it to or it doesn't feel like I’m making progress or perhaps I’m transitioning through a difficult stage of my life. What I’ve come to realize is that if I ask myself if I believe in myself, in those difficult moments, the answer might be “Well no, right now it doesn’t feel like I do believe in myself.” 

What I’ve discovered is that is such a powerful tool to switch that a little bit and to ask ourselves “But do I trust in my own evolution?” That is something that we can look at and recognize that yes, we can trust our evolution. We can trust ourselves to figure it out, to do what’s required to get the support we need, and to know that we have come through difficulties before and we will do it again. We are always evolving to a stronger, more grounded, more aligned version of ourselves. So this is an opportunity to reframe this a little bit and to give ourselves some support in this area of self-belief which I feel is so important.

Willow: I love this topic that you picked. I think you’re so on to something and I think if you bring in the tendency we have as HSPs to have these perfectionist tendencies, to have high expectations, that we’re always thinking “I’m not good enough, I’m not doing enough, I’m not productive enough, I haven’t figured this out, I’m still reactive, I’m still too emotional, I’m still whatever, or I’m too much, I’m not enough.” We hear all of that. I think it’s so important for us to do these pauses in life and to start to think about how far we really have come.

I’ve said this from the beginning that HSPs are resilient. You may not even realize how resilient you are but honestly, walking around in the world as a super sensitive person in a world that is not set up for you means that you have developed a lot of resiliency just getting through the day! I love the concept of that, that we can look back and see the growth that we’ve had.

Willow: Yeah, absolutely. I think it’s so important for us to recognize that, to trust that we have the capacity and the ability to do that. You’re absolutely right, our natural resiliency is amazing. We are super strong inside. I feel that Nature has given us amazing abilities – the highest sensory intelligence that we have and all of the gifts that come along with the trait. It’s incredible what Nature’s given us and yet also, we are at the moment in this stage of the evolution of the trait, we’re figuring so much out. There’s a great deal we have to contend with. We tend to come through life having undertaken an incredibly profound internal journey and it’s amazing what we achieve. It’s amazing what we overcome and what we learn to adapt to. I think that inner strength we have – even though we doubt it sometimes – it’s just to remember that we really are powerful inside and we can rely on ourselves. And to recognize that we will evolve, we will come through and learn and develop new skills and outlooks. 

Julie: Yes! I’ve had some of that happen to me recently. When I first talked to you early on about some of my current health issues, I remember you saying something to me about that there’s meaning in it. It meant a lot to me because I started thinking about how when it first happened, I went through this stage of thinking “Oh my gosh.” I had been doing so well for so many years, health-wise, managing some of my chronic health issues and when it hit me this time – and I hadn’t had this happen for years – I had some days where I thought “Wow, I’m just back to where I started.” I started getting really hard on myself. “I’m supposed to be having it together, why is this happening?” I started blaming myself. 

Then I went through this process of recognizing – almost like I realized I had this ability to step back a bit from the outside and look in, something I didn’t used to be able to do – and I was able to see that there was something different this time. It was like I realized that I had the ability to see that it isn’t always going to be this hard. That I would get through it because I had gotten through it before. There was something so simple about that realization but it was a realization of my own personal growth. That I could look at this as instead of going down into that dark hole and thinking I can’t get out, I could look at this in a new way. I could say “There is meaning in this. There’s meaning in talking about it. There’s meaning in showing that we can fall and we can get back up and we can support ourselves through it and all the tools and growth that we’ve worked on over these years. They mean something.” Especially when something hard hits you and something hard is going to hit all of us at some point. That’s just how it is to be human. There is suffering. 

If you continue to keep working on all the things we’ve talked about in all these episodes, and you keep growing, and you keep committed to that personal development and growth work, when you fall, you’re not going to fall so far and you’re going to rise up faster because that’s how it is. You also get to see meaning in some of that suffering. Some of our biggest growth comes after times of suffering. This whole concept of recognizing our own evolution like you’re talking about, Willow, is really important to identify. 

Willow: Wow, yeah, goodness me. Such powerful words there. Yes, absolutely! The piece around the meaning – there’s such power in that. I really love how you refer to the difference on this occasion of being able to step out a little bit and get that higher perspective. What an amazing indication of your work and your commitment to yourself and your own evolution to be able to have that higher perspective. 

I think we’re in a constant development. We are in an evolution. We’re constantly growing and we’re constantly aspiring to be as true to ourselves as we possible can. I think – you said it so well there – when we’re in difficult times, we tend to be super hard on ourselves and we expect more and we don’t want it to be the way that it is. And yet, when we see it from a bigger picture or we look back over stages of our lives and think “That was really hard but actually there was something really important happening.” 

Literally every single stage of my life where’s there’s been some difficulty or some kind of challenge – in every single case, it’s made me stronger. I’ve learned more. I’ve come away from it with new insights. And especially, I’ve come away knowing myself that much more deeply and as a result, there is always a benefit. 

Julie: I love that Willow. That is so true. You look back on all of those times and it forces you to grow and work on all those pieces that you need. I think it’s really incredible. I think it’s also important for us to talk about that no matter where we are on our journey, everyone has struggles in certain area and I think that’s an important human aspect to talk about for HSPs as well because I think a lot of times, HSPs, including myself – I started this journey also thinking “Oh, there must be a point you get to reach that you don’t struggle anymore.” You have it all together, you’re so balanced in life. Nothing’s going to knock you over anymore. Because people don’t necessarily talk about how hard it is. 

I heard Glennon Doyle on a podcast recently – she’s somebody I really look up to, she’s the author of Untamed – it’s amazing how she shares so vulnerably. You can look at her from the outside and think “she’s got it together, she never has any issues.” But she talks so openly about when she falls and there’s something that really draws me into that because it’s so human. We also need to share that. We are not all walking around perfect all the time with everything together. That is just not how life is. But that we can love and support each other through challenges. We can pick each other up. I think we do that. 

That’s why this community feels so important. We pick each other up and when one is down, the other one is up. We are a part of that process and having people in your life like that is such an important piece. So when you do forget that you have that strength in you, you have people that remind you. Then you will give that back because that’s what HSPs do. 

Willow: Wow, I love that. Absolutely right. Yes, it is a fact of life. It is challenging being a soul in this body. We are here to do work in this world. We’re here to grow and evolve and we’re an organic creature. There’s going to be challenges, things we have to face. I think having that humility around it and also not taking it too seriously is easy to say that. When we’re in something difficult, it’s the most serious thing there is. 

But also, as HSPs, we sometimes have that tendency to be hard on ourselves. We really over-process internally and we make everything much harder for ourselves because of that internal blame or shame that we have. “Why me?” 

I really understand all of those tendencies that we have but I think what’s important to recognize is that underneath, we’re going through some kind of change. Something’s happening. To have that reference point and to give ourselves that extra love, get ourselves the extra support that we need. To ultimately come through it with a perspective that’s without the personal negativity that we tend to fall into. I think this is how we can develop this belief in ourselves a little bit more. We come to recognize that we can hold our own hands and we can be there for ourselves. We will come through. As we develop that awareness, the easier it is to deal with things when they come. 

Julie: Yeah, very much. I think for a lot of HSPs it’s hard for us to receive because we are such givers. You feel like that too, Willow? You’ve seen that a lot in HSPs? 

Willow: Yeah, definitely. 

Julie: We’re so used to giving giving giving and I had that moment too where I was like “Wow, I’ve been giving a lot over the last 20 years.” My oldest son is 20 now. I think about raising of the children and career and work, and all those things that we’ve been doing over the years. It’s such a part of our nature to give. I think it’s important for us also to get practice receiving and understanding that it is a cycle of giving and receiving. That’s an important part of being human. We need each other. 

Willow: Yes, absolutely, we do! 100% we do. To recognize our value and our worth. We are worthy of receiving just as much as anyone else. That we want to give and serve. I feel that’s another very important part of it, to recognize that the love that is around is for us as well as for everyone else that we give so much to as HSPs. That’s a very important point. 

Julie: That’s beautiful what Becca says, “We walk each other home.” 

Willow: Wow, that’s lovely. 

Julie: I love that. It’s a beautiful idea to think about that. I want to hear from some of you listening to us live right now about your journeys to believing and trusting in yourself. And Willow, what do you think your journey has looked like in terms of learning how to believe and trust in yourself? 

Willow: Yes! For me, the greatest endeavor personally has been trusting my ability, trusting the gift that I have as an HSP. That was the greatest disconnect for me when I was younger. I had this sense that there was something so important for me to do and for me to share and I just couldn’t put my finger on it when I was younger. I tried so many different things but ultimately, I was disconnected from the natural gift that I have as an HSP. It was just a painful place for me and it’s that pain and frustration that has absolutely led me to doing whatever I could to come back into connection with that. 

I feel so drawn and called to want to help other HSPs to do that because I can’t bear the thought of anyone being in that place that I used to be. Also, because I recognize how important each of us are in the world. But it was my evolution of actually coming to accept and acknowledge that I’m able to facilitate in the way that I do – that has developed my trust and belief in myself to such a degree. Everything makes sense. 

All the struggles that I go through, the difficulties, whatever it may be, whatever challenges I’m facing, I always know in my heart that I’m doing the work that I’m here to do. As long as I’m committed to that and I’m doing everything I can to evolve and learn as much as I can, then it carries me through everything. It continuously develops my belief and trust in myself. 

Julie: Yes, I agree with you on that one. It’s amazing isn’t it? I still have these aha moments where I’m like “Wow, how did I get to the place where I came from thinking there’s something wrong with me to realizing there’s a gift inside of me that needs to be shared?” It’s kind of amazing and I know a lot of HSPs go through that process too. I want to share some of what’s been coming through in the chat – it’s really beautiful. 

Robbie says “Honestly seeing my high sensitivity as a gift instead of a deficiency has altered the lens I look through and changed everything.” Beautifully said Robbie. Oh my goodness, so true, right Willow? 

Willow: Absolutely, yes. It’s world changing for us to have that perspective. I love that, Robbie. 

Julie: Elisha says “I felt being in this community is like coming home.” There’s something so special about being around other HSPs. I just can’t even explain how special it is. 

Cecilia says “For me, it’s definitely come through experience and getting older, I suppose. I’ve developed a trust in myself and my resiliency because I’ve gone through so many things, many of them challenging. And also I think needing to be my own best friend, when I couldn’t find it and get support from others.” That’s a beautiful thing you’ve learned how to trust your resiliency and yes, I think identifying that these challenges that many of us have experienced definitely do help us remember to trust. 

A lot of times when I’m going through something really hard in life, I think back to that and think “Wow!” I remember I wrote and published my first book – this is many years ago – while I was in bed recovering from a major surgery. I often use that as a reminder of “I can do it. Whatever I’m struggling with, I can do it.” That we can do it some way that works for us. 

Willow: Absolutely, absolutely, yes. It’s incredible our capacity and what a great example of that, Julie. It’s amazing the reserves that we have and I think when that is connected with our calling of what means the most to us, there’s such a source of power and strength in us around that area. I think it’s such an opportunity for us to recognize that we’re here for a reason, especially within the community. 

I think one of the most amazing things about communities of HSPs is that we are seen for who we really are – for some of us, for the first time in our lives – that right there is incredibly powerful. It’s one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and it’s from that perspective we have of ourselves, that’s why it feels like we’re coming home to ourselves. It gives us that incredible source of strength which in turn, helps us to really understand the truth of who we are. 

Julie: Yeah, seen for who we are. Seen and accepted and loved for who we are, that’s the experience when you’re in an HSP community as an HSP. You see each other too and you’re like “Wow, I can see you and me, and I see you and me, and suddenly we’re connected through that. And connection is one of the most ultimate beautiful experiences and something we need as humans. It pulls us through things that are hard when we have that kind of connection. I feel it online. I know that isn’t something everyone can feel online but in our community, I feel it. I feel deep connections with the members in our community. Even if we haven’t met in person, I feel the energy of them in our conversations. I feel the love that comes through. I feel the love that goes to each other in the support and the kindness. 

Right before we started recording, Shan was saying that just going out in the world after being in this community that’s so loving and supportive and then you go out into the world, and go with an expectation that the world is going to be like that and get surprised that it’s not necessarily like that. But I do think it’s important to spend time with HSPs so you can get that perspective. I think it makes you love yourself more when you’re around other HSPs. Don’t you think, Willow? 

Willow: Definitely. That like-minded element of it to know that there are others just like us and have the wonderful perspective of the world that we do and the cares and the commitments that we have.  I think it’s tremendously important and I think it’s another thing that helps us to build that trust and belief in ourselves because we know there’s others doing the same thing and have these same abilities and these same quirks and challenges that we have. We get that kind of community, that energetic community where we know we’re connected. Even though we are doing everything online at the moment, there is still that connection geographically somehow. It’s amazing how that happens. I think it enhances our own sense of self so much. 

Julie: Such a beautiful thing. Shan says “Moving outside my comfort zone, challenging myself to grow in a new direction has resulted in more self-trust.” That’s great to recognize that you’ve developed more of that self-trust. I found that for myself, many of the tools that we’ve shared and talked about and developed together in all of our conversations – those things really help me trust too. I always say it’s like having tools in my pocket makes me feel more trust that I can go out into the world that can be challenging sometimes as a sensitive person and trust that I can be ok. That’s not something I used to have so that’s a big one for me to be able to feel that. 

Willow: Yeah, absolutely, I really love. That’s such a great piece there. I’ve really noticed that too and also listening to some of the people that I follow on YouTube, people who undertake incredible physical feats - people that do the triathalons or extensive running or swimming – they talk about how our minds run round and round saying “You can’t do this, you’re going to hurt yourself. You can’t continue, you can’t go on, you’re going to damage yourself.” And learning that, when our minds realize that we’re not going to give up, they evolve. There’s a shift that happens. Our brain learns that when we reach these points of difficulty and challenge that we are not going to give up and therefore it expands into a who new level of awareness. 

What you’ve just said there Julie and also Shan – saying you’re moving outside your comfort zone, challenging yourself to grow in a new direction and as a result, we get self-trust because we tend to transcend that part of our mindset that tells us “No, we’re not going to make it, we’re not good enough. Whatever it is.” When it learns that we’re not going to give up, that we’re going to do whatever it takes, then we evolve. We expand. Absolutely, it develops our self-trust. 

Julie: I love that. Kristin says “Love and appreciate all your comments here. I’m on a road trip now and we can all feel the beautiful energy emanating from this conversation. So soothing and comforting for this little HSP family.” That’s sweet, Kristin, so beautiful. 

Willow, what else do you think is important to share about this subject today? 

Willow: I think it’s knowing that there is a deep well within us, a reserve within us that is resilient, it’s powerful and it has an intelligence to it. We’re connected with this powerful, beautiful body that each of us have and we’re a part of a bigger picture. In those times where our minds are really playing with us and we’re in those times of despair where it feels everything is against us, it’s just knowing that we are a bigger picture. There is a greater knowing intelligence within us that can be trusted and it will evolve as long as we continue and do all we can to get the support we need to look after ourselves. We will be held and we will come through it and we will come through stronger. 

Julie: Oh, I like the concept that there’s a reserve in us and I actually think we can grow that reserve with intention. I think that’s what a lot of us have experienced, some of this growth work we’ve been doing. It’s like that with everything. If we go into a challenge when we’re fairly balanced in life – we’ve been working on our self-care and all the things that we need to do to be balanced, our boundaries. 
I often think of it like a cliff. How close am I to falling off the cliff? I used to use this analogy with my clients too. How close are we to that cliff right now? If we’re just about hanging on the edge of the cliff every single day, that’s how our existence is, then something hard that happens is going to make us fall off that cliff. If we work really hard in our growth work, self-care, taking care of our balance, then we’re further away from that cliff. If something happens, we’re not going to fall off right away. 

For me, that’s been something that’s helpful and even to give myself support when I’m too close to that cliff. To recognize that there are people out there that really care about helping you, working with a healer/coach/practitioner/therapist – these are things that are so important. If you feel that you’re too close to that cliff, get that extra support. 

If you don’t feel like you have enough of it – we have research that shows that HSPs working in therapeutic environments, getting that kind of support – we tend to benefit the most. And I think it has a lot to do with how we process. We do a really good job when we get the right information and the right kinds of nurturing support. And we have an HSPs Practioners Directory for those of you that don’t have a therapist or healer and you want to work with an HSP. I hope that you’ll check that out. It’s huge to really do those things. 

Some of the things that have helped me – maybe even the community wants to share some of what’s helped them. For me, if I’m having a day, whether it’s a health-related challenge or otherwise, that I’m too close to that cliff, I’ll do little tiny things that are supportive to me. 

During some of my hardest days, Willow, every day, I watched the sun set with my puppy Niko – that was like a thing. I’m going to watch this masterpiece in the sky that comes to me every single day and I’m going to make an intention to do that. And that was one of the things that I did. Looking into my pets’ faces, really focusing on some of the blooms that are happening now outside and letting myself soak in the love that someone is trying to give me or the support that is being shared. Feeling that energy, taking warm salt baths, drinking warm beverages, being under my weighted blanket, being open and honest. 

There’s a lot of shame that’s attached to when we aren’t doing well and I fell that sometimes too. I remember that shame but as soon as you talk about it with someone and you say “This is my experience right now,” it’s this relief, it takes you out of isolation, it takes away the shame and it connects you. 

Willow: Wow, absolutely, goodness me. What incredible words right there! There is so much in there that is so beneficial and I really hope everyone took that in because goodness me, there’s such incredible pieces there. Yes, 100%. How you’re looking after yourself at the moment is just amazing and taking in that energy around you, the love, and taking the time that you need to do what you need to do right now is so important. 

And yes, the piece that you said there, sharing how we’re feeling – I think it’s incredibly important for us to have that contact whether it is with a therapist or a friend or whoever it may be. When we spend too much time in our own world going round and round, that’s where we really start to suffer. When we reach out and ask for help, especially having a mentor or a therapist or someone we’re working with on a regular basis because there’s so much research done around when we’re children as HSPs. We develop at enormous rates - depending on what environment we’re in and conversely, if the environment is not supportive or it’s not good for us – we grow so quickly through therapy and having the love for ourselves to ask for that and to reach out is a really important part of our development. 

Julie: Definitely. It’s amazing because I know in the past and I’ve heard a lot of HSPs say this too, they feel that shame and don’t want to share it with somebody so they put that perfectionist mask on and walk around in the world pretending like they’re ok or pretending they’re not impacted by certain sensitivities and things like that. I used to do that. There’s a reason why many of us have done that. We didn’t get the kind of support we needed and we got messages that something was wrong with us, so of course we feel like we have to hide some of those things! 

But that’s another important thing with talking with other HSPs. You recognize it’s also very isolating to hold all of that in and it can be incredibly lonely. When you actually start expressing what you’re experiencing - and in the Sensitive Empowerment Community, we try to do it in a way that we focus a lot on empowered conversations, rather than dumping conversations. The difference is that a dump is you’re writing at the height of your crisis and it’s a call for help, and that can be stressful for a sensitive community. We try to frame it in a way that “this is what I’m experiencing,” we still can talk about it and we can say “these are the things that I’m trying, this is what’s not working, this is what is working” and then we share ideas together and that’s a really healthy way to have these conversations and it feels really safe. It’s not overwhelming. We’re not panicking about somebody. 

I think that’s an important distinction to be able to talk about it and to get that kind of support and to stop isolating because isolation and disconnection are one of the most powerful ways to feel bad. It is really opening up in safe spaces where you feel like you’re going to be understood and cared about. It’s crazy how much that helps everything! You just start talking about it; it’s really an amazing experience. 

Willow, you talked about something where you said you’re talking about doing something meaningful and there’s so many HSPs that just feel like there’s something inside of them. They want to do something meaningful, they’re not sure what it is, they’re seeking that – a lot of people change their careers and want to do something different, whether it’s work or volunteering. 

You recently wrote a blog post for the HSP blog that I want to point out for people and I’m going to put a link in the show notes of today’s episode so you can get to it. You can also go to www.hspblog.com  It’s titled How to reveal your innate expertise as an HSP. Willow, I love that because that’s where your gifts are, you’re really good and we’ve had sessions with you where you’ve helped HSPs. You have that ability, this extra special gift in you to know how to target and how to find where their light is, right? 

Willow: Yes, yes, thank you for saying that. Absolutely, it’s my sole reason for being here, so concerned to do that. Each of us as HSPs, we have this amazing ability within us – every single one of us has an innate expertise. Nature doesn’t make mistakes, it’s given this trait to 15-20% of the population (there’s 1.4 billion of us right now) and in 100 species of animals. We have this incredible capacity to process the world around us in a very particular way that aligns with a deep fascination that each of us individually has. 

It’s almost as though nature has charged every single one of us with a particular passion and purpose that has a very important role to play in the role. It’s an important piece of the puzzle and when we really allow ourselves to tune into that, it’s incredible what reveals itself, this higher sensory ability that we have to serve in a very particular area that’s individually important to us. When we have that personal experience, the meaning that comes through and the sense of self that comes through and the belonging that comes through, it’s amazing and it’s our birthright! 

Julie: You know, that’s such an important thing, Willow. I was thinking about how beautiful that is. If you think about how you pay it forward in the world because you found that gift within you and now you are trying to help HSPs find that gift within them. What usually happens when they find that gift is that they go out and really make a meaningful difference to others in the world in some form. It’s almost like this pay it forward – I’m really into that concept of grassroots movement. 

I believe that the more we support HSPs on that journey, they are going out into the world and making a difference whether it’s in their own relationships as they’re parenting, their jobs, their careers, helping people in the world. It is just amazing and it is something that we know about this trait that we need to do that, we need to do that thing that is meaningful to us in the world. We don’t do well doing something we don’t want to be doing. We have to have meaning in it and it’s such an important piece of the puzzle of giving us a lot of strength. Talk about getting us away from that cliff. That’s one of the things. If you’re doing something you love that’s really meaningful in the world, you are moving away from that cliff. Right? 

Willow: Absolutely. It’s connecting us with such a resource of self-belief and knowing. That, in itself, is so healing and life shifting. Exactly as you say Julie, the wonderful knock-on effect of paying it forward is when we come into awareness of our innate ability, the work that we then go on to do – and who knows what not-gone effect that will have, not only in this generation but in future generations to come. I think we are charged with a wonderful opportunity to really bring a great deal of awareness and trust and training into the world that needs it so much at the moment. I think that also enhances our own sense of self and knowing, to know that we have a very unique perspective and gift to bring into the world. Who knows what effect that will have? I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to really reach this state of knowing and trusting ourselves. 

Julie: Oh my goodness, so much so. Bonnie says something that I love and it brings us full circle too. “I believe this is the perfect time for us with our gifts that will shift what is happening on the planet.” Love that. 

Willow, this is the reason we began this. I think the reason we even came together and we started doing these podcasts together and our mission is really to help HSPs to recognize their value in the world, to be going and doing those things that light them up in the world, to reduce the challenges that make it possible for us to do that. What you uncover in an HSP – when you do help them reduce those challenges and move away from that cliff – is you will see that there is a lot of light in you. Your light is meant to shine brightly and it does! It shines brightly in the world and you light up paths for others. That’s just who you are as HSPs and we love you for that and we see you. You’re so important to the world and I am so glad that you’re in it. 

I just want to say I love sharing our sensitive journey together and I hope that you have enjoyed this episode. We really encourage you to visit our podcast and check out all the episodes we’ve done together. Please share these episodes, please review the podcast to help other HSPs find it and come join our sensitive empowerment community so we can love on you and share all this good stuff. Sensitive Empowerment Community, I love you. Thank you for being live with us. We just love you so much. I feel energized spending time in your energy. 

Willow: Me too, me too. What beautiful words. Keep doing this wonderful work that you’re doing in the world, you wonderful listeners out there. Trust and know that there’s this light that’s within us. It’s real, it’s there, it’s intended and being together and supporting each other helps us so much to really come into ownership of who we are and what we’re here to do. Goodness me, wonderful things happen as a result. Thank you to wonderful people for being with us, and the things you shared here in the chat. Really means a lot to us. The intelligence of you guys is just amazing. Thank you so much!
Julie: Thank you Willow for sharing your light in the world and with us. I really enjoyed talking with you today and look forward to our next one on emotional wounding. So hope you guys can join us for that, it’s going to be a great episode as well. We’ll be doing that live in the Sensitive Empowerment Community. Thank you, Willow. Love you all! Please take care of your beautiful sensitive sensitive selves in the world. Bye everybody!

---

About the Hosts

Julie Bjelland is a psychotherapist specializing in high sensitivity, Author of The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person, host of The HSP Podcast, and founder of the Sensitive Empowerment Community. Her books, blog, online courses, and free Masterclasses have helped thousands of highly sensitive people (HSPs) worldwide reduce their challenges, access their gifts, and discover their significant value to thrive to their fullest potential. Her HSPs in Heart-Centered Business Group connects and supports HSP healers and practitioners. Julie loves connecting in her Sensitive Empowerment Community and warmly invites you to join this positive, safe, and welcoming space. JulieBjelland.com  ❤️🌈❤️ (she/her)

Highly sensitive people thrive quickly with the right tools and I have loved helping highly sensitive people (HSPs) around the world reduce anxiety and thrive to their fullest potential. The techniques I have developed come from years of working with highly sensitive people all over the world and have been extremely successful for the clients and students I work with. Our life gets a lot better and so does the life of those around us when we are thriving and your sensitive self is beautiful and valuable. We need you in the world. ~Julie

---

Willow McIntosh is the founder of Inluminance and leader of the High Sensory Intelligence movement. Unique circumstances during Willow’s childhood lead to the burying of his authentic self and complete misalignment to the work he was destined for. He began to carve his own path into understanding how people with sensory processing sensitivity can learn to use their genetic traits to their advantage. As an adult this lead to a lifelong enquiry and practise into learning powerful energetic alignment techniques to re-engage with the authentic self. Willow believes that all people with the trait have the ability to tap into a unique skill that draws on a deeper sensory perception. Founded in their own life experience and self development they have the capacity to facilitate great transformation and development in others. Willow is on a mission to awaken us to the responsibility we have to utilise the abilities it affords in business, governments and leadership. Having successfully facilitated the development of seven figure businesses Willow’s practise has taken him all over the world. Speaking internationally, training in a broad range of fields and facilitating others for more than twenty years. Willow now specialises in facilitating people with the trait to activate them into service in alignment with their gifts and purpose and to support them to take their own businesses to the next level towards automation and leadership.

---

Review the HSP Podcast

Help me share tips, resources, and empowerment with other HSPs by reviewing my show on iTunes! You can easily do that by clicking here. Your review will help the show find its way to more people who wish they could tap into their sensitivity gifts and strengths. Thank you for helping me spread the word!

---

You might also enjoy listening to these episodes of the HSP Podcast…