How to stay calm in the face of current events
When I opened the paper last Tuesday and saw the news about the San Bernardino massacre, I physically recoiled. My stomach tightened. As I turned away and shut my eyes, a cry came out of me: a pained noise, no words. Then, as questions crowded into my mind, I turned...
Short on sleep? Caution: there’s rough road ahead
Sensitive people need their sleep. Period. Take this from someone who once tried her hardest to ignore that, and paid the consequences. In college, I had a huge crush on a fellow student who believed it was a waste of life to sleep for more than six hours a night. I...
Thank you for the gifts of growth, meaning, and contribution—key needs for us as HSPs
This Thanksgiving, I'm especially grateful I am to all of you—the folks who have subscribed to and read The Listening Post since I began writing it nine weeks ago. Gratitude carries much deeper meaning when we can express clearly the needs of ours that are met. That's...
The perks of being highly sensitive: extraordinary vividness
I find this sunset extraordinarily vivid. "Vivid" is my attempt to describe the complex reaction I feel inside as I look at the shades of blue, the shapes of the clouds, the play of color on the water. But then, I find all kinds of sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and...
Feeling anxious? Invite the perspective of Presence
For many of us who are highly sensitive, anxiety comes with the territory. If you feel anxious, the first thing to do is to come into Presence with the part of you that is anxious. Focusing offers you specific skills you can use right away to help find the "bigger...
“How long will it take me to heal?”
"How long will it take me to heal this? Is there hope for me to get relief from this anxiety?" I've heard many sensitive clients—including myself ask these questions. When you hear yourself ask these questions, be alert. You have just bumped into the central paradox...
The key to shedding shame
Remember the Incredible Hulk? The huge, raging green guy in the torn pants? I'd never offer him up as a model for emotional self-regulation. But we highly sensitive people (HSPs) have a lot to learn from the Hulk's utter disregard for his clothes. Why? Because for too...