Have you ever felt that you were more sensitive than others in how you interact with the world, that your senses were picking up any tiny detail of information, or that you were aware of how others were feeling even though they were trying to hide? That has been my experience while growing up, and also something that led me to being part of the spiritual community too. In psychological terms, these personality traits are signs you might be a Highly Sensitive Person or an HSP.

And talking about entering the spiritual circles, I was one of those people that saw traditional medicine as inferior to spiritual healing. But after two decades of being part of the community, I came to realize that spirituality and science, and traditional medicine can coexist.

There has been an ongoing conflict between spirituality and modern science for a long time now. It can also be traced back to the conflict between religion and science.

In this article we’re going to explore the concept of a Highly Sensitive Person both under its scientific inception and also within the context of spirituality.

Understanding the Modern Meaning of Sensitivity

Speaking about the Reader’s Experience of Feeling “Different”

As I mentioned above, from a very young age I felt I was much more “sensitive” than the others, something that was also being pointed out by my peers as something negative about me.

The idea of Sensitivity has been shunned for ages but has been currently redefined in the last few decades as being something that is not arbitrary, but has a scientific base to it.

People who are called sensitive differ from others in how they process information that they receive from their senses in a deeper way, and also on a larger scale than the average person.

The idea of Sensitivity has been shunned for ages but has been currently redefined in the last few decades as being something that is not arbitrary, but has a scientific base to it.

So, if we look at sensitivity within this context, being a sensitive person is not something negative, but it’s how your brain is wired.

Defining a Highly Sensitive Person or HSP in Scientific and Spiritual Terms

A Highly Sensitive Person, in psychology is referred to as a person whose brain processes internal and external stimuli more deeply and strongly. HSP people make the around 15–20% of the human population.

It is a trait that has been measured through brain scans, where scientists discovered increased activity in the regions of the brains of the participants in these tests that were associated with empathy, awareness, attention, and emotional processing.

A Highly Sensitive Person, in psychology is referred to as a person whose brain processes internal and external stimuli more deeply and strongly.

From a spiritual lens, an HSP is a person who, because of this trait, is sensitive to the surrounding energies, the emotions of other people, and is more prone to self-reflection and inner work.

Why Sensitivity Matters in Today’s Overstimulated World

Highly Sensitive People are more attuned to today’s overstimulating environment and can teach the rest of the people who are less sensitive how important it is to be aware of how disturbing this environment can be to one’s psyche.

Being sensitive pushes HSP (when they realize the fact that they are indeed sensitive) to find coping mechanisms to counteract this over saturated by stimuli society of ours.

Highly Sensitive People are more attuned to today’s overstimulating environment and can teach the rest of the people who are less sensitive how important it is to be aware of how disturbing this environment can be to one’s psyche.

These are the people who are more in touch with their inner world and are open to a much larger scale of what they perceive to be the world around them.

So, Sensitivity is not a curse, but something that, when appreciated and embraced, can open up possibilities to a person that they would never have been aware of before.

Validating Sensitivity as a Strength, Not a Weakness

I have been a sensitive person all my life, and in the past this trait of mine had been ridiculed and thus made me feel inferior. But after discovering spirituality, and later the idea of a Highly Sensitive Person, I finally felt comfortable in my skin.

My sensitivity helps me to become a more empathetic person, a person who appreciates life deeply, and also someone who realizes the importance of turning inward and learning more about who I am.

I have been a sensitive person all my life, and in the past this trait of mine had been ridiculed and thus made me feel inferior.

So, I invite you, if you feel the same, not to see your sensitivity as something negative, but as a very positive trait that is a gift that you carry that can benefit you and the people around you.

5 Defining Traits of a Highly Sensitive Person or HSP

What follows is a brief guide to the 5 traits that a Highly Sensitive Person expresses. Read them through, and if you find at least two out of the five that speak to you, you are probably part of our “small” group of HSP.

1. Noticing What Others Often Overlook

One of the most characteristic traits of a Highly Sensitive Person is the fact that we can see details others might not notice.

Like, for instance, if a friend is going through an emotional upset and tries to hide it, we can spot that. Also, we can appreciate the world in a deeper way since we process more external information that we receive through our senses than non-sensitive ones.

One of the most characteristic traits of a Highly Sensitive Person is the fact that we can see details others might not notice.

This makes us more attuned to what is going on around us and grants us the ability to be more empathetic towards others, and create deep, strong and fulfilling relationships.

2. Taking Time to Decide with Clarity

Another interesting trait of an HSP that I didn’t mention above is the fact that for us to decide between options, we need time.

I committed myself long ago to the fact that I will never rush into deciding and will give myself time before doing so.

Another interesting trait of an HSP that I didn’t mention above is the fact that for us to decide between options, we need time.

This comes from the fact that our brain takes into consideration many more parameters in decision making than people who are not that sensitive as we are. You’re not procrastinating; you’re simply processing deeply before committing to a decision.

3. Needing Quiet Time to Recharge Energy

The fact that the brain of an HSP considers more information from the environment than the average person can often lead to overwhelm.

So, it is a must for us HSP to take some downtime throughout the day to relax, and decompress.

The fact that the brain of an HSP considers more information from the environment than the average person can often lead to overwhelm.

To do so, I like to give myself a Reiki treatment (since I’m attuned to all three grades other Reiki system) for an hour, and just be with my body and observe how it receives the treatment, making it also a way for me to meditate by focusing on the process.

4. Feeling Emotions in Their Full Spectrum

An HSP also processes internal stimuli deeply, especially emotions.

This can be a blessing to be empathetic towards others, but at the same time a challenge since we tend to get overwhelmed by emotions.

An HSP also processes internal stimuli deeply, especially emotions.

When I was younger, I would be swayed by emotional storms, and it took me a long time to realize how important it was to ground myself. If this is you, I want to stress the importance of grounding and would suggest that you find your own ways of grounding your energy field in order to navigate your emotional weather.

5. Seeking Peaceful and Uplifting Environments

One way for an HSP to balance their sensitivity is to create a space for themselves where they can feel cozy and be able to relax.

I’ve created that special environment for myself by creating an atmosphere where I live that is both pleasing to the eye and also helps me decompress, relax and feel “at home”.

One way for an HSP to balance their sensitivity is to create a space for themselves where they can feel cozy and be able to relax.

For a Highly Sensitive People it is also important to be aware of the media they consume, the people that they spend around, and also the places that they find themselves, in order for them to also keep a sense of balance when they’re away from their home.

Conclusion

Being a Highly Sensitive Person means you are someone who engages with the world more deeply than those who are not as sensitive as you. This is a trait that is not a flaw but something to embrace. It also carries with it challenges that once you overcome, you can at last feel comfortable in your skin and embrace the fact that you’re more attuned with people, energies, and also the subtle realms around you than the average non-sensitive person.

I hope this article has been useful for you to recognize if you are an HSP and how to flourish through it rather than shy away from it.

Till next time, take care.