HSP JOURNEY STEP 3
alignment
"Slowly, a gentle, quiet, personal victory of the spirit grows out of her fear and doubt."
ELAINE ARON
what it means to live "in alignment" with your sensitivity
All human beings have needs.
It just so happens that the needs of highly sensitive people are slightly different from the needs of our less sensitive friends and family. Because the less sensitive form the majority, the society we live in and the daily practices we follow are mostly designed with their needs in mind.
When highly sensitive people follow the mainstream society's life template, we end up living "out of alignment" with our true selves and many of our needs tend to go unmet. Our sensitive stress response is triggered too frequently and for too long. There's not enough time for recharging our batteries.
And then we struggle. In the short term, we wind up tired and overstimulated. In the longer term, we may even develop stress-related illnesses.
But that's not the way it has to go! It is very much possible to live in alignment with your sensitivity even if the world seems to push you in a different direction. It's possible to meet your needs as a sensitive person and it's possible to keep stress at tolerable levels.
In all honesty, this isn't always the easiest feat to accomplish, but I want you to know that you are not alone! There are many of us walking the path of alignment. Finding our way toward greater balance. Figuring out ways to participate, contribute, and connect without compromising who we are and what our bodies need.
7 TYPICAL HSP NEEDS
So what is it that we need exactly?
Well, much of it isn't even a matter of what we need as much as how much we need it. We tend to need a bit more of some things, like rest and quiet time for example. And when our needs are not being met, like when we skip a meal, we will suffer the consequences faster and more severely than non-HSPs. Simply put, we are more sensitive!
There are also individual variations. Even though we might all fall under the same "highly sensitive" umbrella, we are not carbon copies of each other. The most important thing is to find out what YOU need in order to feel well.
To get you started, below are seven needs that are typical among the highly sensitive population.
environment
spending a majority of your time in a calm and peaceful environment with control over potential irritants like lights, sounds, smells, and temperature
quiet time
more than average amount of time devoted to solitude and recharging
relationships
good boundaries plus having people in your life who “get it” and who help you feel supported
self care
plenty of time and consistency when it comes to things like sleep, exercise, and cooking and eating nutritious meals
stress management
tools for regulating the amount of stress in your life and for managing stressful circumstances and intense emotions
time management
feeling in control of your time and not rushed, while having time for your highest priorities
NOT THERE YET?
If you are still seeking alignment, check out these free HSP guides.
If you'd like personalized support on your journey, I'd love to serve as your coach! Here are examples of the kinds of goals I help HSP clients reach:
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE INTRODUCTORY SESSION
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