Why trying to “love yourself” can drive you crazy
"To be happy, you need to love yourself!' How often we hear that, but what the heck does it mean? And is it even possible? In today's 6-minute video I address these questions on two levels: the personal and the spiritual....
Fox wisdom for HSPs: honoring our perceptivity, pacing, prudence, and precision
On New Year's Eve day we hiked near Lake Ontario at Durand Eastman Park, winding between frozen ponds dusted with snow. One pond after another was crisscrossed by fox tracks, and I took this as a kind reminder going in to the New Year: the fox is my old friend and...
Now is the time to share what deeply moves us
Today I'm inspired to share with you one rose and three pieces of music. Why share? There's a lot of pain and fear in the world these days. To contribute to peace we need to support each other keeping our hearts open and our spirits up. This is even more important if...
Allow beauty to open your heart—even when it hurts
Today I'm inspired to share with you one rose and three pieces of music. Why share? There's a lot of pain and fear in the world these days. To contribute to peace we need to support each other keeping our hearts open and our spirits up. This is even more important if...
The hidden pitfall of meticulous HSP self-care
I've written a lot here about HSP self care. And yes, to thrive, we need our sleep. We need a sturdy personal infrastructure. And we need exercise, healthy food, ample time to recharge, and safe, effective ways to do our deep processing. But I haven't written about...
Emily’s Excellent Adventure: the 32nd HSP Gathering in Michigan
I set out for Michigan on September 23, a bit concerned about the long drive as this was my first solo adventure in a while. But I needn't have worried: the trip was a blast. What's not to like about nine hours straight of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on CD,...
How to ground intense emotions in your body—without getting overwhelmed
How do you handle your most intense feelings? Are you able to keep them company when they come up, or do you feel swamped, like they are "taking over?" Intense feelings are a familiar feature of the emotional landscape for sensitive people. We may be able to handle...
How do you handle ugly, unforgivable thoughts and feelings?
I wish I could say I've never had an ugly, unforgivable thought or feeling. But I have had them. One memorable example: during an overwhelmingly stressful period with my ex-husband, I caught myself wishing my daughter had never been born. I felt like a swimmer...
Do I really need to be alone? or do I need the right kind of company?
It's common wisdom that sensitive people seek solitude to recharge. But is solitude always our best strategy when we are upset or over-aroused? In this 6-minute video, Emily takes a closer look at three reasons we get overloaded as HSP's, along with different...
Focusing partnership helps sensitive people with our two essential life tasks. Here’s how.
Elaine Aron, who literally wrote the book about high sensitivity, defines two essential life tasks we must complete as sensitive people to feel happy and fulfilled. One is to accept ourselves despite our significant differences from the majority of people. The other...