I Think Too Much
...on my hands, thanks to winter storm Luna blessing us with 5 inches of snow along with alternating layers of ice...no work today since school was cancelled...so here I sit and think...and think...and think...
I am having one of those emotional days.... everyday for me is a roller coaster ride of emotions but some days are more so.
My thoughts today are...why? Why am I so intense? I have come to realize that it is innate... it must be because it is been a life long struggle. I am sensitive to things others are not. Words and actions can hurt, but so can things not acted upon and words left unspoken. I *feel things deeply...not only the emotions I feel, but what others feel also. We call it empathy, but I believe it is more than that. It's as if I absorb feelings and emotions from others, that coupled with my own, leave me feeling very open and raw at times.
I have been reading a book, The Highly Sensitive Person by psychologist Elaine Aron. In her book she writes that about 15 to 20 percent of the population is characterized as highly sensitive (HS). She adds that about 30 percent of people are moderately sensitive, while 50 percent of people think of themselves as being sensitive while they are "not at all sensitive."
She goes on to explain these findings by stating what personality characteristics come into play...
What being highly sensitive is NOT:
1. Emotionally immature
2. Self-centered
3. Unpredictable and unstable emotions
4. Over-dependent
5. Demanding and attention thirsty
Characteristics of highly sensitive people:
1. Have great imagination
2. Have great intellectual abilities
3. Are creative
4. Have a curious mind
5. Are hard workers
6. Are good problem solvers
7. Are extremely conscious and compassionate
8. Are intuitive, caring and spiritual
9. Have a strong sense of aesthetic awareness
10. Respect nature, art and music greatly
11. Have profound and intense sensations
12. Can access important information from the unconscious mind
13. Have a depth of understanding and feelings
14. Are objective and can see the bigger picture
As I read through this list of HS characteristics, I can see myself in each one....is that a bad thing? Am I doomed to always be at the mercy of my feelings?
Dr. Aron believes, as I do, that it is innate, so I suppose the answer is a resounding, "yes." She states that people of this nature are often easily overly stimulated, that we need to take that "me" time to be alone and destress, meditate, think...whatever it may be that gives us solace. She also thinks that , physically, highly-sensitive people need time and space to be by themselves to process the amount of input they absorb. They may have low tolerance to noise and anything too strong when it comes to sensations.
This is true for me, it is why I am often at the beach, alone, thinking...I need the quietness of nature to help me let go of the stress of the day. So, I guess all of my pondering is not for naught...it does serve a purpose.
And lastly, she goes on to state...people that are highly sensitive must find a meaning in their life. All humanity desires this but for HS people, this is a need. It is their innermost desire to help others be happy, and they can use their abilities to bring their creative side out and make this world a better place for all, even if a small step.
Yes...yes...yes...it is a *must for me, above all else...and it does help me through the process of figuring out who I am along with helping others...
After all of my contemplating on this, I feel that embracing my emotions is better than being in a constant battle with them. It is who I am, I am at peace and happy with myself. :)
I am having one of those emotional days.... everyday for me is a roller coaster ride of emotions but some days are more so.
My thoughts today are...why? Why am I so intense? I have come to realize that it is innate... it must be because it is been a life long struggle. I am sensitive to things others are not. Words and actions can hurt, but so can things not acted upon and words left unspoken. I *feel things deeply...not only the emotions I feel, but what others feel also. We call it empathy, but I believe it is more than that. It's as if I absorb feelings and emotions from others, that coupled with my own, leave me feeling very open and raw at times.
I have been reading a book, The Highly Sensitive Person by psychologist Elaine Aron. In her book she writes that about 15 to 20 percent of the population is characterized as highly sensitive (HS). She adds that about 30 percent of people are moderately sensitive, while 50 percent of people think of themselves as being sensitive while they are "not at all sensitive."
She goes on to explain these findings by stating what personality characteristics come into play...
What being highly sensitive is NOT:
1. Emotionally immature
2. Self-centered
3. Unpredictable and unstable emotions
4. Over-dependent
5. Demanding and attention thirsty
Characteristics of highly sensitive people:
1. Have great imagination
2. Have great intellectual abilities
3. Are creative
4. Have a curious mind
5. Are hard workers
6. Are good problem solvers
7. Are extremely conscious and compassionate
8. Are intuitive, caring and spiritual
9. Have a strong sense of aesthetic awareness
10. Respect nature, art and music greatly
11. Have profound and intense sensations
12. Can access important information from the unconscious mind
13. Have a depth of understanding and feelings
14. Are ob
As I read through this list of HS characteristics, I can see myself in each one....is that a bad thing? Am I doomed to always be at the mercy of my feelings?
Dr. Aron believes, as I do, that it is innate, so I suppose the answer is a resounding, "yes." She states that people of this nature are often easily overly stimulated, that we need to take that "me" time to be alone and destress, meditate, think...whatever it may be that gives us solace. She also thinks that , physically, highly-sensitive people need time and space to be by themselves to process the amount of input they absorb. They may have low tolerance to noise and anything too strong when it comes to sensations.
This is true for me, it is why I am often at the beach, alone, thinking...I need the quietness of nature to help me let go of the stress of the day. So, I guess all of my pondering is not for naught...it does serve a purpose.
And lastly, she goes on to state...people that are highly sensitive must find a meaning in their life. All humanity desires this but for HS people, this is a need. It is their innermost desire to help others be happy, and they can use their abilities to bring their creative side out and make this world a better place for all, even if a small step.
Yes...yes...yes...it is a *must for me, above all else...and it does help me through the process of figuring out who I am along with helping others...
After all of my contemplating on this, I feel that embracing my emotions is better than being in a constant battle with them. It is who I am, I am at peace and happy with myself. :)
Age:
41-45
,
Female
