An Empowered Highly Sensitive Person: How to Get Out of Survival Mode

From childhood to me 30s, I felt broken. I had an emotional childhood, I struggled in my career, I battled self-esteem issues for most of my life, and I thought my generalized anxiety was to blame.

Ever since I was a child, I always felt different, and that feeling never went away — until I learned I was a highly sensitive person (HSP). 

After reading Elaine Aron’s book, The Highly Sensitive Person, my life opened up. I didn’t feel discouraged or at a disadvantage. Finally, at 32 years old, I understood my purpose.

For the first time in my life, I felt empowered. 

At the time I learned I was an HSP, I was also participating in an emotional intelligence program through my previous employer. Because of this, I had made a lot of connections between the characteristics of emotional intelligence and highly sensitive.

My training on emotional intelligence led to a positive reaction to learning about my sensitive trait. I felt like I had the tools and resources to navigate how to manage my sensitive trait. There was so much opportunity to change my life and use what I thought was my biggest weakness to build a more meaningful way of living. 

I couldn’t wait to connect with other HSPs, but I soon realized that many sensitive people often feel discouraged by their sensitive trait or feel worse after learning about it. It’s because many HSPs don’t have the tools and resources to navigate what it means to be highly sensitive and be able to use their innate superpowers for good. 

This pushes many sensitive people with exceptional talent and so much to give the world into survival mode. An HSP in survival mode doesn’t have the skills to regulate deep emotions, they tend to be emotionally reactive to challenging situations, and often have low self-esteem since they feel their sensitivity is a burden. The longer an HSP is in survival mode, the harder it is to climb out of it. 

But no matter what, every highly sensitive person has what it takes to feel empowered, build confidence, and use their innate, sensitive superpowers effectively. An empowered HSP is self-aware of their sensitivity and its strengths. They use their sensitivity to make a difference in the world and create their own path towards an authentic, well-balanced life full of meaning.

An empowered HSP is aware that by managing their deep emotions, they are able to unlock their innate superpowers such as creativity, empathy, and intuition. They understand that their sensitivity is a gift and that they play a significant role in society.

How to become an empowered HSP

It goes without saying that the world is lacking sensitivity. From racial hate to greed, to sexual violence to poverty, we are lacking empathy and compassion — two things that can significantly change the world. 

An empowered HSP plays a big role in using their sensitivity to guide, mentor, and teach others. In a society that is run by warriors, HSPs have the ability to use their innate superpowers to make a positive difference through creativity, compassion, empathy, and much more. 

If you’re ready to use your sensitive strengths to make a difference in your life and the life of others, I welcome you to The Sensitivepreneur Community, an intimate online community for HSPs on a mission. To learn more, click here.