Why I Wake Early

Hugs,

Emotional Self-Discovery :: Part II :: The Highly Sensitive Person

Last week I shared Part I (Unwrapping the Gift of Empathy) of what may very well become a blog series as I continue my research. This week I would like to share my findings on the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Apparently HSP is interchangeable with empath and seem to share the same traits.

In 1997, Dr. Elaine Aron released her book The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You after years of research on the trait. There is an estimated 15 to 20% of the population who are highly sensitive. HSP is intrinsic, and according to Dr. Aron, "reflects a certain type of survival strategy, being observant before acting." HSPs are intuitive, notice more, aware of subtleties, and reflect more deeply. HSPs can easily become overstimulated and overwhelmed when situations become chaotic and intense. HSPs are often mislabeled as shy and introverted. The scientific term is Sensory-Processing Sensitivity (SPS).

Common characteristic behaviors of HSPs:

• Are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby?
• Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time?
• Do you make a point of avoiding violent movies and TV shows?
• Do you need to withdraw during busy days, into bed or a darkened room or some other place where you can have privacy and relief from the situation?
• Do you make it a high priority to arrange your life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations?
• Do you notice or enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, or works of art?
• Do you have a rich and complex inner life?
• When you were a child, did your parents or teachers see you as sensitive or shy?

Dr. Aron has a Self Test on her website.

Dr. Susan Biali shares helpful survival tips on Psychology Today for those living the HSP life. Boy can I relate! I usually keep my lights super dim in my living room where I spend most of my time, despise loud and crowded areas and events, can't watch the news, and plan my life around having "me time."

I'm suddenly noticing others sharing their HSP stories, survival tips, and discovery: Tiny Buddha, Hannah, and Susannah. I think this goes back to what I said in Part I, these beautiful people and articles are noticeable to me now because I'm finally ready to receive the information and knowledge they have to share with me.

I am no longer willing to shame myself for my "weird" behaviors and emotions. I'm much more grounded and stable than I have ever been and I'm ready to receive the truth the universe has to share with me and the teachers it chooses to send my way. This is the spot where I'm firmly planted and these roots run deep. I am strong. I am complex. I am me.

Sensitively yours,

P.S.
Last month I took the Clifton Strength Finder assessment to discover my top 5 unique traits (of 34). Major revelation in 3-2-1...my #1 top strength is Empathy! LOL. The universe is at work here. :-)

Quote - You are unique

image credit

From the very beginning you are being told to compare yourself with others. This is the greatest disease; it is like a cancer that goes on destroying your very soul because each individual is unique, and comparison is not possible. I am just myself and you are just yourself. There is nobody else in the world you can be compared with.  ~Osho 

Love is the Answer

Hello, lovely ladies! I just got back from a short trip to Huntsville for work. I had a lots of alone time in the car, exploring a place I’ve never been, and a little shopping – oh yeah, and some work. LOL. On my drive back yesterday I heard a song during the midday flashback that I haven’t heard in a while and frankly had completely forgotten about. I really listened to the words and was brought to tears. The words speak directly to my heart, caressing the tender spots that were magnified due to the Connecticut tragedies last week.

I Believe - Blessid Union of Souls

I believe
That love is the answer
I believe
Love will find a way

It’s hard to imagine that some people are capable of such horrendous, violent acts. Please keep in mind that they are the minority. We, those who have faith in our fellow man, are the majority. Seek peace. Seek love. And never stop believing. Love is the answer.

Hugs,

P.S.
On a similar side note...
How powerful are these lyrics?

Why can't we just see
that all we do is eliminate our future
with the things we do today
Money is our incentive now
so that makes it okay

Exactly. What we do today affects tomorrow. Children are our future. What are we teaching them?

Juicy ebooks + zines, Part V

See Part I, II, III & IV.

::Free::
~ The Creative Joy Workbook by Susannah Conway + many other inspiring creatives
~ Curvy Voices from Anna Guest-Jelley (Curvy Yoga)
~ 91 Magazine
~ The TomKat Studio 2012 Holiday Gift Guide
~ Indie Lovely digital magazine
~ The Inquiring Heart from JoAnna Rothman
~ The Studio Voice
~ Authentic Dreaming Worksheet by Danielle LaPorte + awesome wallpapers and MP3's
~ Inspired Ideas online crafting magazine
~ Mondo Beyondo Dream Generator from Andrea Scher + amazing worksheets and Superhero Manifesto
~ Messages From Your Angels from Leonie Dawson
~ The Dangers of Self-Portraiture by Vivienne McMaster
~ The Shift Plan from Kate Courageous
~ Crystals & Our Sacred Spaces eKit from Hibiscus Moon
~ Gratitude and Love Letters from Hannah Marcotti + a gorgeous life manifesto
~ Strong & Vital Voice with Whale from Pixie Campbell
~ The Body Stories from Sas Petherick + many lovely writers

::Worth Every Penny::
~ 30 Days of Courage by Marianne Elliott
~ Tips & Tricks for Taking Dreamy Photos from Vivienne McMaster
~ Light Hunters E-Book from Vivienne McMaster

Hugs,

I'm Dreaming of a White (and Fuchsia and Turquoise) Christmas

I promised to show you my fuchsia + turquoise (with touches of silver + white) Christmas vignette for this season. I decided to go small this year and create a tabletop scene and use a small tree. I added the matching waterless snow globes I made last weekend and a couple diorama figurines that I spray painted white. Also in the scene are the glitter houses and polymer clay birds that I made last year. It all looks a little odd against my "roasted red pepper" dining room walls and gold pictures frames but I'm not stressing over it. :-)

Hugs,

I Go Down to the Shore

Hugs,

Quote - Extraordinary

image credit

Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary.  ~Uta Hagan

That Which Awakens Me

My sweet little owl in progress.

Hugs,

Emotional Self-Discovery :: Unwrapping the gift of Empathy

Today I want to share with you something that I learned recently about myself that has made my “weirdness” finally make sense. I’ve heard people talk about being an empath but it always went right over my head. I guess I wasn’t quite ready to connect the dots.

In October, I took Hannah Marcotti’s Spirits of Joy in which there was also a Facebook group to share your responses to prompts. Day 23’s prompt was: Take a quality that you believe you possess that you wish you could change. Explore shifting this, molding it, expanding it, working with it. This was my response:

A dear sweet soul responded to me with this:

YouTube Link

I checked it out and holey-moley, it was like Dr. Orloff was talking about me personally! Things finally started to make sense as to why I do certain things which seem odd to others but aligns perfectly with being an empath. My sensitivity (which I’ve written about here many times), my need to have space with myself after crowded events, wanting to always drive myself so I have a getaway car (LOL), finding it necessary to retreat during heated debates, my mood changes after being around negative people (energy vampires), my carrying of other peoples burdens, my tendency to anxiety and depression, my inability to live with others, my finding relationships overwhelming, my emotional overeating, and my sensitivity to smells, sounds, and voices. There is a reason for all of this!

I was intrigued by what Dr. Judith Orloff could share and have since picked up her book Emotional Freedom in hopes that it will help guide me on ways to block out negative energy, not carry the emotions of others, feel more grounded, and to use this gift to help others instead of hurting myself.

I feel so empowered to now have some answers to my emotional quandary! If this is something you’re familiar with I would love to hear what you have to share. Let’s help each other and learn from each other.

Hugs,