On Why Sensitivity is a Strength & How We Can All Benefit from Being More Sensitive
For highly sensitive people, pausing to consider what we do and how we engage in something is a cornerstone of our trait. Our perceptual sensitivity and awareness of subtle changes allows us to think about things much more deeply than others, and for longer periods of time. When we engage in this process of careful consideration, we play out different scenarios in our minds, in hopes of making a choice that reflects intention, connection, and what is most congruent with our inner experience.
sensitivity as leadership
Let’s explore this a bit more. HSP’s are born with an innate trait that naturally helps us evaluate choices and make decisions that benefit not only ourselves, but can impact our surroundings. This way of functioning--which is very different from the majority of our impulse-driven, quick-to-respond culture and society--is a strength of the sensitivity trait. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but I can only imagine the benefits of a society that slows down to process their thinking and makes conscientious efforts to consider impact before taking action or making decisions that will have potential lasting effects. On a macro level: think leaders that make decisions on humanitarian issues, environmental issues, the social justice system, and on a micro level: think you, me, and our relationships--all are deeply impacted by choices, decisions, and our ability to consider one another.
We can all benefit from stepping into sensitivity and using its strength for relational leadership.
relational leadership skills
So how do we get there? Whether you are a highly sensitive person or not, we can all benefit from cultivating these skills for caring for ourselves so that we can better care for and influence others.
We need to turn inward.
This means we do the work we need to do to get ourselves to a place of inner safety. When we learn ways to soothe our nervous system (the part of us that reacts to threats or fear) our thinking will move from a fear-based response, to a conscientious approach. This enables us to make more well-intentioned decisions based on what we think and feel is best (not out of instinctive reaction) both for ourselves and our surroundings.
We need to enhance our sensitivity.
Let’s tap into the trait that enables us to be more attentive to our surroundings, enhances empathy for one another, and seeks to find more ways of connecting. Find topics, hobbies, and community experiences that enhance your humanity, offer you connection with others, and all around make you feel good! Begin to observe your body more--feel the sensations, places of tension and lightness, notice how emotions show up within your body. The more embodied you are, the more you can sense into your environment and what develop sensitive intuition to guide you.
And lastly practice moments of pause, and then respond. We can all make attempts to change our habits, and if it’s for the betterment of ourselves and the world which we live in, then why not? Take these next couple of days to find moments of pause for yourself--it will take conscious effort. Journal your experience and reflect on what you felt was most helpful for you. We tend to remember experiences that we have had deep emotional connections to.
How high sensitivity is a strength
From an evolutionary survival perspective, the high sensitivity trait has evolved for people so that we can make conscientious decisions that not only benefit us, but those around us. Essentially, so that we can collectively work towards a more harmonious way of life. Which is something that highly sensitive people actively try to do each and every day. HSP’s can play a leading role in moving the world forward by not only continuing to be themselves, but in sharing the experience that comes with carefully considering actions and impact prior to acting or responding. It’s important for us to feel safe, seen, and heard and I think that when we do find that community and share how we see and understand the world, we are not only helping ourselves, but offering our friends and family insight into our inner lives.
And hey, I’m not preaching that HSP’s get it right all the time--we’re human first of all. But from personal experience and understanding, I know that we certainly make conscientious efforts in thinking of the impacts our actions and decisions will make. If you can take a second to imagine a world where we all consider the impact we have…that world would reap the benefits of caring for each other’s humanity.
My hope is that we all make efforts to tap into our inner sensitivity to create a more enriching, empathic, and thoughtful sense of community- wherever we are.
Gaby Ramos is passionate about the process of becoming and knowing oneself and she believes that as our self awareness increases, the quality of our communication improves; fostering self-esteem, confidence, and resiliency in our relationships. She is mindful of the unfolding process in the present moment and take a gentle yet active approach in helping individuals recognize and embrace a genuine experience of self. As you collaborate, she will support and help guide you in being an embodied participant of your present emotions.
Gaby brings her inherent values of cultural awareness and diversity to the room with her. She works from a relational, culturally sensitive, and embodied perspective. As a highly sensitive person and former national and international professional performer, she strongly enjoys helping individuals access their creative potentials.
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