WELLBEING
Sensitivity as a Superpower? Written by Dominique Antonina Being a sensitive human can feel like you have no skin.
But it is a gift to feel, to intuit. Imagine the times that you felt
Like there is no buffer between you and the world. Do
intense emotions. Imagine having the worst day of your life,
you ever feel like that? If so, this article is dedicated
and then being met with an insensitive, oblivious, tactless,
lovingly to you sensitive souls. If you have no idea what
unfeeling, or ruthlessly unconcerned person in that moment,
I’m talking about, you might understand by the end the
how would that have impacted you?
blessings and burdens of being a sensitive person in an insensitive world.
Maybe you’ve had a taste of that. You’ve been going through something brutally hard and you’ve walked into your
So, who qualifies as a sensitive person?
local shop, or gone to work and people have been utterly
We all bear some level of sensitivity. And we all have
unconcerned, insensitive, or unaware, and there was no
blind spots and can be staggeringly oblivious too. Some
safety for you to whisper “I’m struggling right now,
are sensitive to criticism, some are empathetic enough
I just need a minute.” So, you retreated, a husk of yourself,
to feel other people’s emotions close to the bone. Some
convinced the world was a tough and ungenerous place.
are overly concerned with the pain of the world. The
In those husk states, we can turn mute. Vocalizing needs can
Germans call this weltschermerz and Francis Weller
be beyond our triggered capacity, and it is a blessing,
refers to it as the third gateway to grief.
a game-changer, if someone notices you, and shows you a little tenderness. This is what sensitive folk do well. Sometimes they know before you do. They see you a mile off, and before asking, they know already you’re not okay. Think of the times when someone has, without request, made you a cup of tea, covered for you at work, or listened to you even when they were tired and it was late. Because you, your feelings, and your experience matters. Sensitive people are needed. How much better would the world be with more sensitive, empathetic, loving humans in it? Think of some inspiring, sensitive people and their
Some of us are sensitive to coffee, drugs, sex, porn,
contributions to art, music, therapies, science, technology,
loud noises, or scary films. We’re not all made the same,
playfulness. Deep joy and vulnerability comes from the same
thank goodness, and there are levels of sensitivity that
visceral place – the inner child. The inner child stays
can mean we do quite well in this hectic life. But being
in tune with sensitivity, play and vulnerability. It doesn’t give a
sensitive can quickly lead to being overwhelmed, and
shit about deadlines, rules and scowls at jobsworths.
the need to escape into a fantasy land or lean into
It has a different set of priorities, valuing compassion, care
addictions.
and expression above all else. Existing sensitively and being connected to our inner kid is an imaginative and potent way
My rough definition of empathy is to experience a
of living and connecting with the world.
deep level of sensitivity and concern for other people’s
“But it’s so harrrrrrrd”, I hear you sensy souls purring. Yeah it
emotions and well-being, sometimes to the degree that
is! Sometimes it is just incredibly hard.
other people’s moods and needs can trump your own, or you struggle to set boundaries if you feel it could cause
I'm sorry if you thought this article would tell you how to
harm or upset. With a heart made of tissue paper in a
make it easy, I can't do that. Being sensitive to the pain of
world with many sorrows, how can we see sensitivity as a
the world and others will take up time, space, change your
superpower and stay centred?
plans, demand your attention... My advice? Find the stillness, the solidness of you within the sensitivity. You might feel like
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Firstly, remember sensitivity is a gift.
you’re made of tissue paper, but you’re not. You’ve survived
It might be an expensive gift, one that you wish
this long being sensitive in this ferocious world, so I’d wager
sometimes you could return & get a refund.
you can hang on in some more.
