Do you identify as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)? I do – and if you do too, you know
that HSPs feel deeply.

Because we’re sensitive and feel our feelings deeply, our nervous systems can get
easily flooded – especially during relationship conflict. It’s so important for us to work
on slowing down and soothing ourselves – like practicing breathing deeply, petting our
dogs/cats, and having a self-care plan for after conflict like taking a hot bath or a walk.
Conflict for us can be deeply confusing and upsetting. Because we grow up in a culture
that doesn’t appreciate our unique gifts many of us learned to suck it up. This often
meant putting on armor during conflict — we can come off as harsh and unyielding. It’s
one area people get confused about a lot around high sensitivity. Just because someone
is highly sensitive doesn’t mean they’re warm and fuzzy all the time. If we were
always warm and sweet our culture would beat us up pretty badly. So some of us learn
to compensate by being great warriors in battle!

But if we can soothe ourselves from the get-go – I mean like from the moment we wake
up – then when we encounter conflict we’re aren’t as easily provoked. And if we can stay
conscious through conflict and soothe ourselves, we become even better
communicators.

What does this look like for you? Maybe this means going on a news diet for a while?
Perhaps waking up and slowing down first thing, instead of revving up? How about the
idea of taking on a practice, like a gratitude journal, meditation, or a morning walk?
If you’d like to learn more, call me!