“Life is messy but we can show up afraid. Joy and pain coexist in a brave and beautiful life.” Krista O’Reilly-Davi-Digui, a Joyful Living Educator and writer, continues: “As we stop waiting to feel ready or for life to feel neat and tidy, and learn to show up through fear, grief, or pain, our experience of life changes. “Real-life is messy. A joyful, meaningful, brave and beautiful life will include fear and stress. You’re not doing life wrong if sometimes you feel anxious or afraid, or if your life feels incredibly hard right now. It simply means you need to learn to honour your wiring in t ..read more

Our sensitivities probably “were not recognized as an advantage during our early development and schooling.” How has that impacted the course of our life? In their podcast episode The Importance of Understanding Our Value as HSPs, Willow McIntosh and Julie Bjelland address how we value ourselves. From the podcast Show Notes: The notion of value can mean different things. Yet in the context of personal value, it can mean the difference between a life of struggle and one of meaning and abundance. As HSPs, the value we bring to the world is often connected to our ability to process more deeply ..read more

These articles include episodes of the Creative Mind Audio Podcast, and related material such as quotes by artists and psychologists, videos, books and more. Also see growing list of Creative Mind Audio Podcast episodes – many with transcripts. ~~~ How Can You Create a Successful Business as a Highly Sensitive Person? “It’s a great time to grow an online business and HSPs can be really good… How Highly Sensitive People can deal with anxiety – a free Class Why are we more vulnerable to anxiety as a highly sensitive person? “Anxiety or high… How Polyvagal Theory Helps Highly S ..read more

“Understanding the trait of high sensitivity is life-changing and the first step in moving out of survival mode and into thriving to your fullest potential.” Julie Bjelland adds, “We have brain differences that evolved for the survival of the population. We don’t need to change ourselves, we just need to learn about our needs, normalize our experience, and use tools that support a sensitive nervous system. “Everyone around you benefits when you are centered, balanced, and thriving. You will feel more energy, productive, creative, and be able to access the many gifts of this trait!” This audio ..read more

“Environmentally sensitive people often struggle for years without answers, support or acceptance. You can make the path easier.” – Andrea Weber Episode of the HSP Podcast with Julie Bjelland 137: Keys to Managing Environmental Sensitivity with Andrea Weber Show Notes from Julie Bjelland site: In this unique and inspirational event, Andrea will discuss the following: What it means to be environmentally sensitive Environmentally sensitive and HSP – similarities and differences Proactive steps for both immediate and external environments Recognizing the opportunity for personal growth and lear ..read more

“The whole, like, sensitive, fragile thing. I do have those qualities, and I just don’t think there’s anything wrong with them.” Winona Ryder Writer Heather Havrilesky comments in her interview withRyder: “But even these days, when women who talk openly about their struggles still work very hard to project that flavor of sunny, upbeat optimism our culture prefers, Ryder offers us a helpful reminder that feeling conflicted, confused, or just ambivalent is a feature of being alive and not a bug. “Emotional intensity, contradiction — these aren’t signs of instability or immaturity; they’re the ..read more

Excerpts from article Oxytocin and Social Phobia : Some people may confuse the trait of high sensitivity with shyness or social anxiety. Social phobia or social anxiety disorder is characterized by extreme and persistent anxiety associated with social or performance situations. Scientists believe that the amygdala is responsible for the symptoms of social phobia as it is the central site in the brain that controls fear responses and produces the symptoms of anxiety disorders. Cognitive-behavior therapy is useful in treating social phobia. A Swiss study demonstrated the power of oxytocin to hel ..read more

From the Highly Sensitive Humans site: Are you Highly Sensitive? Do you struggle with emotional overwhelm, anxiety or burnout? Do you need support in setting boundaries or prioritising your own needs and self-care?  I’m Jules De Vitto – the founder of Highly Sensitive Humans. I offer a holistic and mindfulness-based approach to support Highly Sensitive People all around the world. This includes 1-1 Coaching, Workshops, a Podcast and an 8-week course for Highly Sensitive People. Here you will find an abundance of resources and tools to navigate your sensitivity, step into your authentic p ..read more

Writer Pearl Buck famously commented, “The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive.” I don’t agree that being highly sensitive makes us “inhuman” in any sense, but the trait can bring with it emotional challenges. A number of highly sensitive and creative people have used drugs and alcohol as self-medication to ease the pain of their sensitivity, to deal with emotions, or try to enhance thinking and creativity. Sometimes they risk addiction. Beethoven reportedly drank wine about as often as he wrote music, and was an alcoholi ..read more

Keeping emotionally safe in relationships is necessary for anyone – but especially for highly sensitive people. Sarah Dolliver is the Founder of InnerVantage, the “online community for inner-directed individuals (those who focus inward to restore).” [Apparently no longer online.] In her article Build Better Boundaries, she writes: * Have you ever agreed to do something that you knew you would rather not do? * Have you not given yourself enough time to do the things you do want to do, but instead used that time for someone else? * Have you allowed another person to behave in a fashion or s ..read more