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What do we mean when we say that someone is a hyper-sensitive person? People usually consider sensitivity as a flaw, but could we actually think of characteristics as some of the greatest advantages of a hyper-sensitive person?
Generally, a person called sensitive is strongly affected by what he/she experiences. Research has shown that everyone is more or less sensitive but there are some people who are much more sensitive compared to the rest of the people. For those people, the term hyper-sensitive person is used.
Myself as a Hyper Sensitive Person
For me, as a hyper-sensitive person, reality can easily become brutal. The need to stay busy all day long, attend meetings, have phone calls, keep up with numbers, and constantly try to prove my value, etc. can easily make me feel overwhelmed.
Not everyone can understand me. Quite often my friends and family advise me to stop being that sensitive, to grow up, and become stronger. They treat my sensitivity as if being sensitive is a malfunction or problem.
Honestly, in this society we all live in, we learn from an early age to be fast and efficient in whatever we do. We must be productive and in most cases, sensitivity is not an asset.
However, I believe my sensitivity and feelings are there every time for a reason. I know that I am able to sense and understand things that other people cannot. They call this intuition. I call it the ability to sense that something is wrong or needs attention. Ability to understand that another human no matter what he/she says is not ok.
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The Signs of Me Being a Hyper Sensitive Person
Ever since I remember myself I could be happily laughing one moment and burst into tears just minutes afterward. The tears could be due to several reasons. To name a few, the sight and only of an injured animal, of an old lady that could not walk by herself, of a child begging for money. They were all enough reasons for me to start crying.
Growing older and having to work for big companies like banks made things worse. I could feel that I was so much different than the others. Usually, I felt out of place and I would just try to hide as much as possible. I would only try to do what I could and just wait for another day to end.
Most of the time when something was not ok I could sense it. If one of my colleagues had a problem or was not feeling ok I could easily understand it. All needed to do was just take a look at his face, his expressions, or I could even understand it via phone by the sound of his voice.
I could even understand if there was a problem between some of my coworkers, what was the new manager‘s opinion about each one of the personnel, or if there was some kind of problem with the processes and status of a project. And I could do all these just by paying attention to other humans, their expressions, and reactions.
How did my colleagues react to this ability of mine? They would call me strange, irrational, or would think that I am overreacting in some cases. And to some point, they were right because I know that it was hard for them to understand what I was trying to explain.
Sensitivity Encouraged Feelings of Disappointment
Constantly trying to explain me and my feelings to others was disappointing. I have spent most of my life wishing I were different, less sensitive, and less emotional. All I wanted was to be harder and crueler in a way. I did not want to allow other people’s words, opinions, emotions, or expressions to affect me.
Lots of people of course had thanked me during my life for being there for them when needed someone to understand. When they needed someone to offer them compassion and kindness. This is of major importance but for some reason, it seemed that did not matter that much compared to my pain and suffering through all those years.
It somehow seemed that my gain compared to what I was losing was meaningless. People continued to underestimate me, doubt me, and overlook me. For my job, I kept on being for years nothing more than one productive unit which was actually not working as well as others.
Feeling like this made me start trying to develop myself, to try to become a bit harder. The thing is that along the way what I thought was my biggest problem, I found out that could be a huge asset if was actually using it instead of trying to bury it.
Let me point out what in my opinion are the 4 greatest advantages of a hyper-sensitive person.
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4 Greatest Advantages of a Hyper Sensitive Person
1. You are Aware of Yourself, Your Needs and Feelings.
Having a deep understanding of who you are and how you are each time of the day is what makes you able to understand what is good and what is bad for you. Being sensitive enough to understand what another person might be going through sets you able to correspond accordingly, taking his feelings into account.
2. You Can Feel and Share Compassion
As pointed above compassion provides that someone can be able to understand someone else’s feelings. While living in a cruel and selfish world I consider compassion a strength that could prove to be a superpower.
3. You Have the Ability to Sense When Something is Wrong
You are able to sense things that other people don’t. In most cases, you can catch the vibes, read the faces and expressions, and translate what one says not only by his words but also by the pace, tone, and sound of his voice.
4. Final Greatest Advantage as a Hyper Sensitive Person is That You Can Use Your Sensitivity to Be Creative
Artists are well known for their sensitivity and their ability to sense emotions. Artists are also well known for their ability to set their emotions on fire with their creations.
For those who read my blog, you also know that apart from articles I also share some short stories and poetry. How could I possibly be writing about other people, my heroes, if I were incapable of being in their shoes, thinking their thoughts, and feeling their emotions? How could I be writing for other people without being able to inspire them with my heroes’ emotions and thoughts?
In my opinion, creativity is the biggest of the greatest advantages of a hyper-sensitive person.
“The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. To them… a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death. Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create— so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, their very breath is cut off… They must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency they are not really alive unless they are creating.”
Pearl Buck,The Good Earth
Conclusion on Greatest Advantages as a Hyper Sensitive Person
I can understand everyone who is not a hyper-sensitive person that to them so much sensitivity is unrealistic. It is totally out of their system and something that they could never feel related to.
However, sensitivity should not be thought of as a flaw. For a hyper-sensitive person, there are huge advantages that cannot be underestimated. Self-awareness, compassion, empathy, and understanding are just a few of them. High levels of intuition and a tendency to creativity are also some of the greatest advantages of a hyper-sensitive person.
“Spend enough time putting yourself out there in the world—your sensitivity is not something to be feared.”
Elaine N. Aron, The Highly Sensitive Person
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Ooh I actually think point #4 is a good one, because my writing’s the best when I have some emotions behind them, and this point here actually makes sense. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Stuart! To me creativity and sensitivity are side by side. When the writer is full of emotions how could his writing be left without?
Thank you for taking time to read me and comment 🙂
Thankyou for sharing this insightful piece. Although I am not possibly as sensitive as you describe here I have been accused of being over sensitive before. I cry when others cry and am apathetic. I cry at the drop of a hat especially watching highly emotional scenes. But I think it is a blessing as like you say it leads to compassion and kindness which are important virtues. I will follow your site as I am interested in reading your short stories and poetry 😊
Thank you so much for taking time to read me and comment. Really appreciate it 🙂
Hope you will enjoy my posts ❤️
I’m sensitive too and still wish I wasn’t sometimes. However, like you say, it helps to make us more compassionate. A world without compassion would be worse than Hell.
I totally agree Rachel that a world without compassion would be worst of than hell!
Thank you for sharing your point of view 🙂
It’s true! Being sensitive is never wrong. Because it’s ok not to be ok. You can’t lie to people and even yourself when you’re not ok. Plus, being sensitive also helps you to be kind and considerate of others. Thank you for sharing this good post. I’m going to check out the test soon. I want to know my sensitivity level too.
Thank you Fadima! Sensitivity is a precious gift and should be treated accordingly 🙂
I am not a sensitive person but I have absolutely no problem with being sensitive. Being sensitive is not wrong. It makes you relate more with people’s feelings, emotions, and be more compassionate. I’ll take the test.
Feeling and showing our emotions is of most important. There are lots of people who do not allow themselves to be sensitive or show their emotions as a sign of weakness. Thank you for taking time to read me and share your opinion it 🙂
The world likes us to be robots with no feelings or sensitivity – that works best for corporations and they want that from employees. But we are humans with emotions who can be affected by different things! I’m an emphatic person. I easily understand others’ emotions and tend to absorb it as well. So if my friend is having a bad day, it bleeds into my day too. Managing that and setting emotional boundaries has been something I’ve worked on for years, and it’s never perfect. But being emphatic helps me form good bonds and be able to help my friends. There are pros and cons, and being sensitive is definitely not a bad thing.
Exactly Sumedha! Like everything in this life sensitivity also has its pros and cons. The bad thing is that sensitivity is usually treated as weakness, which of course it isn’t. Empathy is a huge advantage of sensitive people. Thank you so much for reading my post and sharing your opinion about it.
Yes! I am a very sensitive person and it seems to be something that is seen as negative- but these are some great positives. I can tell when a situation or person is off, and I love these positive aspects you’ve highlighted x
Sensitivity of course has its pros and cons. The bad thing is that for some reason only the bad aspects of sensitive are usually refered or highlighted by others. Since I spent most of my life blaming myself for being sensitive as it was something that needed to be cured I decided to point out why sensitivity is also a great gift. Take advantage of your gifts fellow sensitive blogger! Glad to read your comment 🙂
Thank you Mandy! Each one of us is different and that is perfectly ok. We all should be aware of who we are and make good use of our assets. Glad you took time to read me and share your opinion on it 🙂
I love this post! I’ve always been a sensitive person and you’re so right that it’s an advantage as, I have always found I’m a lot more compassionate towards others because of it xx
It seems that the world ww live in tends to focus only on the negative aspects of sensitivity. I needed to point out all the beautiful and positive aspects of sensitivity and I am so glad you liked it! Thank you ❤️
Love this! I’m a highly sensitive person too so this totally resonates with me. Have you read ‘The Highly Sensitive Person’? It explores this in more detail x
Thank you Caroline! no I havent’t heard about it. I will definately check it out since I am interested in the subject
Interesting post. I think I can be very sensitive as I take things to heart readily.
Thank you Jamie for reading it. I think every writer is sensitive enough in order to feel and inspire emotions.
When you’re sensitive, you see pain flash past on a person’s face. You see emotions as though they were lines in a face. You spend so much time trying to decode silent messages. It is like looking for patterns in the clouds or in smoke. It can be frustrating and misleading because emotions unlike words are not always what they seem. At the same time, I am glad to be me.
Yes being sensitive often means that you get frustrated, you are right! everything comes with a prise after all 🙂
Thank you for reading it and taking time to comment!
It always interests me that other people (usually friends and family) will see a character trait we have as a negative or see it as something we need to mature out of or get over — often because they don’t have or understand it. Sensitivity is not a flaw, it is how some people navigate their lives. Your points are so valid and affirming — thank you for sharing!
Exactly! People always tent to judge what they cannot understand. Thank you for adding your opinion in this discussion 🙂
My sensitivity allows me to be creative. What an interesting thought to consider. I enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing.
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Happy you enjoyed it Regine!
thank you for taking time to read and comment 🙂
Great post! I’d always thought that me being sensitive was a bad thing but you’ve made me realise it’s not. I definitely agree that sensitive people can show more compassion and sense when something is wrong – it’s like we’ve got a built in sixth sense! Thanks for sharing.
I thought of it as a bad thing also but while trying to change it I realized what an asset it is! thank you for taking time to read and comment!
Being sensitive is so much better than the opposite- not being empathetic or understanding your or others’ emotions or conflicts. I am so glad more people are talking about the importance of it!
Of course being semsitive is so much better than the opposite!
thank you so much for reading it and taking time to comment 🙂
Very important post! Being sensitive has always been a negative thing rather than a positive thing it seems. But it’s so important to understand others and their emotions!
Empathy is one of the best positive aspects of sensitivity!
thank you for reading it and taking time to comment your opinion on it!
Ooo, I just blogged about my feelings of disconnect with the universe. I’m so sensitive with my OCDP that I can’t accomplish anything if I don’t feel “right.”
Great post and yes, sensitivity is a good thing.
Yes, sensitivity is a good thing 🙂
Thank you Erin!
Hiya!
I really identify with this, you sound like an Empath. It can be quite overwhelming but it is such a great trait to have, just never very useful in the harsh corporate world which is something I learnt x
Totally agree! the corporate world sees sensitivity as a fault. Thank you for reading it and taking time to comment!
Thank you for sharing. I whole heatedly agree with this. Sensitivity is a blessing.
Thank you Mary 🙂
Creativity and sensitivity as side by side.
Thank you Alicia for reading me and taking time to comment!
Very informative, I agree with you on the reasons for being sensitive. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Francic for reading and taking time to comment 🙂
Great post! I watched my sister get teased relentlessly for being too sensitive. It caused me to over-correct. Now as an adult I have worked hard to become more sensitive because I finally have permission to “feel” things. I think there must be a better balance for us. I’m not sure why parents try to make children behave in ways that aren’t true to themselves. Thank you for pointing out all of the pros to being sensitive!
I think parents try to prepare us for the cruel world but trying to do so they sometimes force us to think of parts of our personality as flaus. Everyone is different and sensitive does not mean problematic. Thank you for sharing your opinion on it!
This made me cry….thank you, really
Glad it touched you Rafia! Thank you for letting me know. It means a lot 🙂
Really nice post, and great insights as well!
I think I’m by far the most sensitive lad in my friend group, so seeing this post and the benefits of being sensitive made me pretty happy. Though truth be told, I do also want to become more resilient and stoic regardless, since life isn’t very forgiving at times when blasting you😅
Glad you liked it!I also try to be more stoic. Thank you for taking time to read and comment 🙂
These are great points. I definitely think being more sensitive makes you more compassionate too
Thank you Kelly! Compassion is one of the magor advantages of being sensitive 🙂
Couldn’t agree more about creativity, I think my sensitive side allows me to see things others might not pick up on or in as much detail. I recently wrote post on this topic also so it was refreshing to read from another perspective!
Thank you for reading and commenting! I will check your post to check your perspective 🙂
Thanks for reminding me the positives of being too sensitive. I’ve had people tell me, “Quit being so sensitive.” Well, it’s a good thing.
Sensitivity is considered as a fault by many but it is not like that at all.I am glad you liked it. Thank you for commenting 🙂
Great post, at times being hyper sensitive can be seen as a negative, that’s not the case at all and these points demonstrate
Glad you liked it Sarah! Thank you for commenting ❤️
Eri, I can so relate to this. People have always considered me a weirdo. I remember once I was out shopping with my Mum and we walked past a shop where a young child was having her ears pierced. She let out the most awful wail and I burst into tears because I felt her anguish. It is not a fault, it is a blessing. If more people allowed their sensitivity to flow there would be a lot less arguing and fighting.
I believe so too Dorothy. Unfortunately, most people translate sensitivity as weaknesses. I can totally understand how you felt at the incident you described. Thank you for sharing it!
I can see the benefits of being sensitive. Lovely article.
Thank you Jamie!
So true! I agree with all points. Especially no.4. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for commenting Fadima!
I enjoyed reading this & I admire your courage for sharing an intricate part of you. It is a shame that many consider having compassion or too much compassion as a weakness. When really it should be an attribute that is celebrated by many.
I am glad you liked it Helen. It feels strange for me also sharing this part of my personality. Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Love this! The 4 things you listed are so spot on! I remember when I was like 4 or 5 and we went to see an ice show with the kindergarten group. At some point I saw one of the performers dressed as baby bear walking alone along the ice rink, and I started crying. I cried because the sight made me feel like the poor bear was so alone and I felt so incredibly sorry for it. Back then I was embarrassed because I couldn’t explain why I started crying so suddenly but nowadays I know it was because of my super power: sensitivity.
Teresa Maria | Outlandish Blog
I find it even more beautiful that you can recall that memory and the way it made you feel! No reason to feel sorry about your sensitivity. You are awesome!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful memory ❤️
Hi there, I really liked your post. Did you know that what you’re talking about is a new area of research in counseling and psychology? THere’s even an “official” name for it (name, not diagnosis, because as you say, it is NOT a problem). The term currently being used is Highly Sensitive Person, which I kind of liek better than “hyper,” because “hyper” has some negative and/or pathological connotations in counseling (btw, I’m a counselor). Here’s the book and a quick assessment for self-identification. What you’ll love about this is that the research primarily focuses on the advantages and gifts of HSPs rather than the condemnation people like you, and me (hi, I’m an HSP, too!) experience from others.
book: The Highly Sensitive Person
https://www.amazon.com/The-Highly-Sensitive-Person-audiobook/dp/B001KW7O92/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SFQOYRUPD8EI&keywords=the+highly+sensitive+person&qid=1641996243&sprefix=the+highly+sensitive+person%2Caps%2C66&sr=8-1
Assessment
https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/
Hope you find this as healing and inspiring as I did when I discovered it a year ago 😉
Our society treats sensitivity like it is some kind of weakness, but it’s truly the opposite. Those that are willing to wear their hearts on their sleeve, embracing their sensitivity and allowing it to guide their lives in a kind and compassionate way are, in my opinion, the strongest.
I am with you on this 100%! Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂