For as long as I can remember, I’ve known I was a sensitive person (which then I learned that not only was I a sensitive person, but a highly sensitive person). Yet, I often tried to deny this part of myself. In a society where sensitivity is sometimes viewed as a weakness, I grew up associating it with being “not fun,” “overly emotional,” or even “soft.” So, I kept it hidden, trying to mold myself into someone society might find more acceptable. But life has a funny way of showing us who we really are.
The turning point came when I began to embrace my sensitivity. Slowly, I realized it was more than just a quirk—it was a strength. My ability to deeply understand and empathize with others became a cornerstone of my work and personal relationships. I learned to listen not only to words but to unspoken feelings, and this enriched my life and my connections in ways I could never have anticipated. For a while, I felt at peace with this realization.
But the journey didn’t end there. Not long ago, I stumbled across a video on one of my favorite YouTube channels, Malama Life. Sophie, the creator, shared a deeply personal story about being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) which video you can watch here. Like me, she’d wrestled with the societal stigma around sensitivity. What resonated most, though, was how she turned her perspective around and highlighted the gifts of being highly sensitive. Sophie’s journey reminded me of my own, but it also added a layer of understanding I hadn’t yet uncovered.
