Dear Sensitive Soul: Your Sensitivity Is Your Strength

Week 11, 2025

ℱ𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈... 🫶💌☕

Last week, I wrote about migraines, the nervous system, and being a highly sensitive person (HSP). It made me reflect on how I cope with being an HSP, something I’ve carried with me for as long as I can remember.

I know I’m not alone in this. Around 15-20% of people are HSPs (Psychology Today, 2025), yet it remains widely misunderstood.

If you're anything like me, you've probably been told that you're "too sensitive" or "too emotional" throughout your life. Maybe you've been made to feel like something is wrong with you for feeling things more deeply than others.

You might have been told you overthink, or that you're "too soft" for this world.

But what if your sensitivity isn’t a flaw? What if it’s a gift? Yes, it can feel overwhelming at times, but there’s power in embracing our sensitivity and learning how to protect our energy.

Sensitivity isn’t a disorder. It’s a trait—a natural part of who we are.

For those of us with Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), our brains are wired to process stimuli more deeply. We don’t just hear the sounds around us, we feel them. We don’t just notice the chaos in a room, we take it in, on a cellular level.

And yes, this can leave us feeling drained.

But here's the beautiful part: our sensitivity makes us:

• More empathetic

• More aware

• More compassionate

The brain regions responsible for empathy and awareness are activated more strongly in HSPs. So while we may feel things more intensely, it also means we have a unique ability to connect with people in ways that others might not.

Take a moment to pause:
Breathe deeply.

As you exhale,
feel the truth settle within you:
Your sensitivity is not a flaw,
it’s a gift.

Let this thought ground you,
gently reminding you of your worth.

As HSPs, we absorb other people’s emotions and energy. It’s easy to feel drained, but here’s what I’ve realised: we have every right to protect our energy.

• Saying "no" is not selfish.

• Stepping back is a powerful form of self-care.

Setting boundaries helps us:

• Preserve our energy

• Give from a place of genuine strength and clarity

It’s okay to take up space. It’s okay to protect your peace. You don’t need to carry the weight of others' emotions.

As HSPs, many of us are drawn to caring roles—social work, teaching, healthcare—because of our deep empathy and compassion. But these roles can also lead to burnout if we don’t take care of ourselves.

Work overstimulation is a challenge for many of us, so it’s essential to:

• Listen to our bodies

• Set boundaries around our work

• Integrate self-care rituals that nurture our nervous system

Self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.

Imagine:
Close your eyes and think of a situation
where you need to set a boundary.

Picture yourself calmly and confidently
saying “no” or stepping back.

How does it feel to protect your energy in that moment?

Remember: your sensitivity is not a burden, it’s a strength.

You are not “too much” or “too emotional.” You are exactly who you're meant to be.

Delicate yet powerful. Sensitive yet strong.

Reflect:
Think about a time when your sensitivity served you well.

How did it help you connect with others
or understand a situation more deeply?

Hold onto that feeling as you move through your day.

By honouring your sensitivity, learning to manage your energy, and practising self-awareness, you can thrive in this world without feeling overwhelmed.

The Heart of Sensitivity

In the quiet of the storm,
You feel the wind that others miss,
The whispers of a world unheard,
A tender, silent, deep abyss.

You wear your heart upon your sleeve,
A gift wrapped in a golden thread,
You see the truth in every glance,
You feel the pain in words unsaid.

So when the world asks you to harden,
To silence what you know is true,
Remember that your deepest power,
Is in the softness that’s in you.

I wrote this poem because it speaks directly to the heart of what we often feel as highly sensitive people.

Our sensitivity can sometimes feel like a burden, but in truth, it’s a strength that connects us to the world in a unique and profound way.

This is a reminder that our hearts, no matter how tender, are what make us powerful, not weak.

I’m walking this path with you, my friend.

And I believe in you.

𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒢𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓉𝓊𝒹𝑒,
🙏 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒶 𝓍𝑜