Discover the differences between empaths and highly sensitive people (HSPs). Learn how to identify your traits and find tailored self-care strategies. Explore our guide on Empath vs. HSP and take our simple checklist test to understand yourself better.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

In the world of personal growth, understanding oneself is the first step toward a more fulfilled life. If you’ve ever felt deeply affected by the emotions of others or overwhelmed by sensory input, you might wonder whether you’re an empath or an hsp. While these traits overlap, they are distinct in several ways. Let’s dive into the differences between empaths and HSPs, and how knowing your type can guide your personal growth journey.

And while you’re here, make sure to check out our membership for highly sensitive people and empaths!

What Is an Empath?

Empaths are individuals who have an exceptional ability to sense and absorb the emotions and energies of those around them. This goes beyond simply understanding or feeling empathy for others; empaths actually feel others’ emotions as if they were their own. This trait can be both a blessing and a challenge. On the one hand, empaths can offer deep compassion and support to those in need. On the other hand, they can become overwhelmed by the intense emotions they absorb, leading to emotional burnout.

Empaths often find themselves drawn to helping professions such as counseling, nursing, or teaching, where their ability to connect deeply with others is highly valued. However, because they take on so much emotional energy from others, empaths need to be particularly mindful of setting boundaries and practicing self-care. Techniques such as grounding exercises, energy protection strategies, and regular alone time can help empaths maintain their own emotional balance.

What Is a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)?

Highly sensitive people (HSPs) are individuals who have a heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli, emotional cues, and subtleties in their environment. This trait is part of a spectrum of sensory processing sensitivity, and it is believed to be present in about 15-20% of the population. HSPs process information more deeply than others, which can make them more perceptive and insightful. However, this deep processing can also lead to feeling overwhelmed by bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, and even the energy of crowded places.

HSPs often excel in creative fields, where their attention to detail and ability to notice subtleties are great assets. They might find fulfillment in careers such as writing, art, music, or research. To manage their heightened sensitivity, HSPs benefit from creating calm and orderly environments, setting aside time for solitude, and engaging in practices that promote relaxation, such as mindfulness and meditation.

Empath vs HSP: what are the main differences?

While the empath and HSP share the common trait of heightened sensitivity, their experiences and challenges can differ significantly:

1. Emotional Absorption vs. Sensory Sensitivity: Empaths are primarily affected by the emotions and energies of others. They absorb these emotions, which can lead to emotional exhaustion if not managed properly. HSPs, on the other hand, are more affected by sensory input and environmental factors. They might find certain textures, sounds, or lights particularly overwhelming.
2. Energy Impact: Empaths can pick up on both positive and negative energies, which can drastically affect their mood and well-being. They need to regularly cleanse their energy to avoid feeling drained. HSPs, while also affected by energy, are more likely to be overwhelmed by sensory overload rather than emotional absorption.
3. Coping Strategies: Empaths often need to develop specific coping strategies to manage the emotional energy they absorb, such as energy shielding or grounding techniques. HSPs benefit more from managing their sensory environment, ensuring they have quiet, calm spaces to retreat to when needed.

Empath vs. HSP Test

If you’re unsure whether you’re an empath or an HSP, taking a test can provide some clarity. The checklists below are created to help you understand your level of empathy and sensory sensitivity. While these tests can offer useful insights, remember that they are just a starting point. Self-reflection and personal experience are crucial in understanding your unique sensitivity. Consider keeping a journal to track your responses to different situations and stimuli. Over time, patterns may emerge that help you determine whether you’re more aligned with the traits of an empath or an HSP.

Do the empathy vs. HSP test by counting the amount of statements that apply to you below.

Empath Checklist

Wondering if you’re an empath? Have a look at how many characteristics you identify with:

HSP checklist

Wondering if you’re a highly sensitive person? Use this checklist as a starting point:

Scoring of These Lists

Count the number of statements you checked in each list:

• Empath Checklist: If you checked 8 or more statements, you are likely an empath.
• HSP Checklist: If you checked 8 or more statements, you are likely a highly sensitive person (HSP).

If you checked a high number of statements in both lists, you might be both an empath and an HSP, sharing traits from each category. Understanding these aspects of yourself can help you develop tailored strategies for self-care and personal growth. Embrace your sensitivity as a strength and use it to enhance your life and the lives of those around you.

Why Knowing the Difference between Empath and HSP Matters

Understanding whether you’re an empath or an HSP can significantly impact your approach to personal growth and self-care. Each trait comes with its own set of strengths and challenges, and knowing where you fall can help you tailor strategies to your specific needs.

For empaths, focusing on energy management is crucial. Techniques such as grounding exercises, energy protection methods, and regular self-care routines can help you maintain your emotional health. It’s also important to learn how to set healthy boundaries with others to prevent emotional overload.

For HSPs, creating a sensory-friendly environment is key. This might include using noise-canceling headphones, ensuring your living space is calm and orderly, and practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation. Prioritizing time alone to recharge and reflect is also beneficial.

Embracing Your Sensitivity

Whether you identify as an empath or an HSP, embracing your sensitivity is essential. These traits are not weaknesses; rather, they are unique aspects of your personality that can lead to profound empathy, creativity, and insight. By understanding and honoring your sensitivity, you can leverage it to enhance your personal growth and live a more fulfilling life.

In conclusion, while empaths and HSPs share some similarities, they are distinct in how they experience and process the world around them. By recognizing and embracing your unique sensitivity, you can develop effective strategies to manage overwhelm and thrive. Remember, your sensitivity is a gift that, when nurtured and understood, can lead to deep connections, rich creativity, and a truly meaningful life.

The post Empath vs. HSP: What Is the Difference? appeared first on HiSensitives.

Are you asking yourself the question ‘Am I an Empath’? In this article, you’ll discover the common signs and ways to embrace your trait.

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

We all come to this term, “Empath,” at different points in our lives. If we’re lucky, we learn of this at an early age and we grow up understanding our sensitivity and developing the skills needed to live well.

But most of us do not hear the word “Empath,” until much later in life, and we struggle through our adolescence and even adulthood. We don’t fully understand what we’re feeling and we don’t know how to care for ourselves.

Maybe a friend recognizes these qualities in you, or maybe you find yourself up late one night Googling the “symptoms” out of desperation. And there is a “knowing” at the first mention of the word itself, and the more we read, the stronger that “knowing” becomes.

Am I An Empath? These Are The Common “Symptoms”

Do you wonder whether you actually are an empath? Below, I listed some common “symptoms”.

Accepting The Label

But we still find ourselves asking “Am I an Empath?” We read books and take quizzes. Why? Because we haven’t learned how to trust our intuition, and as humans, we struggle so dearly with labels.

I was several years into my sobriety before I was able to say “I am an addict” out loud. It wasn’t a secret by any means, but by adopting the label I felt like I was asking others to feel sorry for me.

I had heard firsthand so many inspiring stories of recovery. Beautiful people who had faced struggles far worse than I had endured, and I didn’t feel like I was “worthy” of putting myself in the same category with them. Consequently, I didn’t believe I had suffered enough.

 And while being an addict and being an Empath are two starkly different things (although it’s not uncommon for an unpracticed Empath to struggle with addiction as a way to cope with the overwhelming feelings), I have wrestled with this label in very much the same way.

Intuitively, I have known that I am an Empath, but it wasn’t until very recently that I was able to outwardly identify as such. Also, I lacked the confidence and skill required to trust in myself.

How To Come To This Acceptance

How did I come to this acceptance? In slow, metered degrees. When I got sick in January I wasn’t sure what the rest of my life was going to look like, or how much longer I was going to have.

It’s so easy to find ourselves rooted in the false security of tomorrow, and while my illness is how I came to understand that we are not guaranteed anything, this is true for all of humanity. We Just. Never. Know.

When I surrendered to this, what I found in its wake was a dark, vast hole of unknown. Moreover, I accepted that I was not the center of the universe, and when I recognized how small I was in the grand scheme, I truly came into my power and, for the first time, felt my connection to it all.

How To Learn To Understand Your Empathic Trait

Being an Empath sounds more like a ‘what’ than a ‘who,’ but I’m not sure this is true. When we take another’s energy, another’s emotions into our bodies, they very much become a part of who we are, even after we learn how to differentiate between the two.

Being able to identify the source does not prevent us from feeling, and we still need to learn how to process and release this energy. Being aware and taking care of ourselves becomes essential to leading healthy, happy lives, and is very much a part of who we are.

So how do we come to understand ourselves? And to care for ourselves? The tools are the same. It is through understanding ourselves that we learn what we need, and that is going to look a bit different for all of us.

I cannot tell you exactly what your path will look like, but I can share with you my journey, and assure you that you will know your path when you find it.

#1 The Art of Meditation

This was the first time I ever really felt connected to my highest, truest self, and to something greater than me, and it happened simultaneously, though not instantly. I had to get down underneath all the noise in my head, and that took practice and time.

A suggestion – thinking about not thinking will only make the process harder. I know – I tried it. Thoughts are human and as unstoppable as our breath, but it is possible to learn to detach from them – to witness them as they come and go. There is even insight to be found in doing so, and the practice will help you get there.

#2 Be Mindful of What You Eat

Digestive issues are often a good indicator of stuck energy, and Empaths are prone to them. For instance, Chinese medicine believes that when we eat we are not just taking in the food – we take in air, energy, emotions – and our bodies need to be equipped to process all of this.

Therefore, try to eliminate preservatives and additives, be mindful of where your food comes from (and what it may be carrying with it) and listen to your body – they are telling us all the time what they need.

#3 Make a “Joy List.”

Write down a list of activities that feed your soul. For instance, it could be reading, painting, taking a bath. And then take it a step further. Schedule time (yes – really schedule it) as often as you can and dedicate it to doing something from your list. Daily is wonderful! However, make it manageable.

The intent here is to give yourself time to feel joy, not to add stress by trying to squeeze this time in. You can always choose to schedule more time later. And add to the list! Spending time being joyful often leads to more joy.

#4 Trust Your Intuition

I say ‘trust’ and not ‘listen to’ because I believe as Empaths most of us already hear it, sense it, but we’re either not confident enough or not skilled enough yet to trust what we’re hearing.

Next time you get a “feeling,’ lean into it. We’re doing all this work on the inside, so let go of any fear that someone else will know what you’re doing, that you’ll be judged. Therefore, just lean in a little and see what happens.

It’s OK to ask yourself questions, and it’s OK if you hear an answer. This doesn’t make you crazy. When we really tune into our thoughts we find that we’re already doing this every day, subconsciously.

Take control of what questions you’re asking yourself. You have the power to connect to your intuition, and in doing so, to change the story you’ve been telling yourself all along.

#5 Journaling Is A Conversation With Your Soul

This one was tricky for me. I have collected dozens of journals, most of them with only a few pages filled. Also, I always started the practice with gusto but quickly abandoned it.

I told myself the ‘energy wasn’t right,’ or ‘it was the wrong journal, but the truth is I approached it like an assignment and always felt like I failed. My handwriting was off. I misspelled a word. It wasn’t poetic enough.

This last time I made a commitment to myself. Come typos or bad grammar, I would write every day for one month. I chose not to go back and read anything for fear of judging myself.

As a result, I ordered the plainest notebook I could find and laughed when it arrived. It was unlined! I was sure the universe was mocking me, but I went with it. And under the precept of prose, I found me.

If you are looking for a great journal to get started with your journaling practice, here are a few great options for empaths:

#6 Deepen Your Connection With Spirituality

I’m not telling you to find God (I’m not, NOT telling you to find God, either), but as Empaths, we are sensitive to energy. Consequently, I have found that in order to work with my energy I had to find my connection to its source.

When I was in rehab I asked my facilitator if I could skip the NA meetings. Moreover, I told her that I had gotten myself into this mess and I was not going to “surrender myself” to anything, that I did not believe in “God” in the way that they intended.

She told me that she didn’t care if I found God in a light bulb and ordered me to attend more meetings. Therefore, I went, but this didn’t make sense to me until many years later. Spiritual practice is as broad as its definition and as individual as the person.

Be cautious of Pinterest boards that tell you what it’s supposed to look like. Connection is a feeling and there is more than one way to get there.

#7 Learn to Identify Your Boundaries

I’m wary of anyone who tells me where to set my boundaries. When we learn to set boundaries, what we’re really learning is how to ask ourselves “am I OK with this?” I know for myself, this answer can shift with the person, the place, or even my hormones.

Through meditation, journaling, and learning to trust my intuition, I have discovered how to discern what the answer feels like in my body. I think it’s been trying to tell me all along, I just didn’t understand the question and therefore didn’t recognize the answer. It warrants repeating. Trust your body – it’s talking to you.

#8 Find Your Release

As humans, we all have to learn how to process our emotions, whether we recognize their relation to energy or not.

As Empaths, we become starkly aware of their energetic nature and what that energy feels like in our bodies. But we can only carry so much, and ‘overloaded’ is a sensation we become quite familiar with, even if we can’t name it at the time. It shows up as exhaustion, depression, anxiety. Sometimes it even presents as addiction.

So we have to learn first how to name it, then how to locate it, and finally how to let that energy go. Meditation, learning how to talk to and listen to my body and spirit, and finding my joy have all assisted me in learning how to do so.

Sometimes The End Is The Beginning

I didn’t find all the answers to this awakening. However, what I found were more questions.

What does this mean for me? Where do I go from here? If I am not the center of it all, then what is my purpose? But at the root of this was “Who am I?”  Because without this knowledge, I’m not sure the answers to the other questions would be possible.

The most important gift we can give ourselves is to start asking these questions. As soon as we ask –

“What do I need?”
“How am I feeling?”
“Is this mine?”

We have already begun to put it out there. To set the intention. We are telling the universe, and even more importantly, ourselves, that we matter.

Valuable Resources For Empaths:

I’ve included below some of the resources that I have found helpful along my path. I hope that some of them may be of service to you, too.

You May Also Enjoy Reading These Articles

• 8 Powerful Long-Distance Relationship Tips For The Highly Sensitive Person
• How To Understand And Listen To Your Intuition
• How To Rediscover Your Passion And Live A Fulfilled Life
• How To Create a Productive To-Do List That Won’t Overwhelm You

The post Am I An Empath? 8 Powerful Ways To Accept And Embrace The Label appeared first on HiSensitives.

In this article, you will discover why personality traits are important to be aware of when it comes to relationships.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

There are many factors that affect the success and stability of a relationship. One of the important factors is personality. Personality traits can affect the dynamics of relationships.

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, neurotic or conscientious, determines not only what kind of person you are. It also affects how you deal with other people and how to build and maintain a relationship.

Understanding your own personality type is crucial in navigating and nurturing relationships effectively. It provides valuable insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and communication style, helping you adapt and connect better with your partner or potential partner. By recognizing and appreciating these differences in personality traits, individuals can proactively work together to build a strong and harmonious relationship.

In this article, you will discover how different personality traits may affect your relationships.

Personality and Relationship

Personality traits are an important contributing factor in finding happiness and success in relationships. Personality determines whether two people are compatible with each other or whether their traits clash; hence, making it difficult for them to maintain a long and lasting relationship. 

However, personality is not everything. It’s only a factor that can affect your relationship with someone. This means that knowing your partner’s personality trait is key to maintaining a healthy relationship with that person. Being aware and conscious of each other’s personality helps you manage the roadblocks and challenges in your relationship better.

If you wish to know your personality trait, you can take a personality test. Knowing and understanding yourself better can help you understand your partner better as well.

There are traits that are more inclined with having a healthy romantic life. For instance, people high in conscientiousness and agreeableness tend to have successful relationships. On the other hand, some traits, like those high in neuroticism, struggle with maintaining relationships. They also tend to have difficulty coping with and moving on after a breakup.

Introvert and Extrovert Couples

Is it possible for two opposite personality traits to build and maintain a healthy relationship? The answer is yes, but both need to exert effort. Introvert and extrovert couples, for instance, may have a lasting relationship.

However, for their relationship to work and last, each must be willing to understand each other’s personality and accommodate the other person’s emotional needs. Introverts must let their extrovert partners be social and outgoing. On the other hand, extroverts must give their introvert partners some alone time and respect them when they prefer peace and quiet.

Narcissism and Relationship

Narcissism is among the personality traits that often leads to an unhealthy and unfulfilling relationship. A narcissist may be charismatic and charming at first. This makes it easy for them to attract a potential romantic partner. However, since they often seek admiration for themselves, they often become selfish, unempathetic, and disinterested towards their partners. They tend to be distant from their partner’s deeper feelings and thoughts. 

Having a relationship with a narcissist may be fun at first. This is because narcissists are great at making positive first impressions. They overwhelm you with their charm. However, in the long run, the relationship can be emotionally draining. This is why it’s quite challenging to maintain a lasting relationship if your partner is a narcissist.

Personality Disorders and Relationship

Having personality disorders is already a challenge in itself. It does not come as a surprise that people with personality disorders struggle with maintaining a healthy relationship. Couples must learn how to give and take in order to make the relationship work. However, people with personality disorders struggle with this. Often, minor conflicts escalate. Some cling to their partners while others become distant and push their partners away.

However, a relationship with someone with a personality disorder is workable. It takes a lot of effort on both sides in order to maintain a healthy and secure attachment. This boils down to understanding and supporting each other. 

For example, people living with depression can find hope in relationships. They can turn to their partners to help them balance their moods and sadness and low self-esteem. In fact, research shows that a healthy relationship, in the long run, can help manage the symptoms of depression. For this to work, however, the partner must be supportive, patient, and understanding.

Self-Awareness Is The Key To A Happy Relationship

In the end, being aware of your and your partners personality traits can greatly benefit your relationship. By knowing how each of you deal with different situations, you can emphasize easier with one another. Therefore, it is wise for the two of you to dive into this in order to take your relationship to the next level.

The post How Do Personality Traits Affect Relationships? appeared first on HiSensitives.

In this article, autism coach Nikki talks about the similarities and differences between being highly sensitive and being highly gifted.

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Earlier I wrote a guest blog about the differences between high sensitivity and autism, because these two neurodivergencies are often mixed up. Today you will learn more about high sensitivity and being highly gifted, as these traits often are confused with each other as well.

However, that’s not completely strange, as high sensitivity can also be a trait of being gifted. Therefore, in this article, I provide some more information about what being highly gifted entails. You will discover what the differences and the similarities are, so you can distinguish between the two traits.

The Basics Of Being Highly Gifted

There are different definitions of giftedness, but in general professionals use the multi-factor model of Franz Josef Mönks’s. This professor of developmental psychology has added a number of factors to the existing model of the American psychologist Renzulli.

Renzulli stated that giftedness is not so much a trait, but a certain ability that leads to gifted behavior. According to this theory, a person is highly gifted if he has a great amount of creativity, high intelligence (IQ> 130) and a certain motivation.

• High creativity: By creativity people do not only mean “creative” creativity, such as painting, knitting, clay or baking cakes. For many gifted individuals, creativity (also) expresses itself in language and word jokes and in coming up with original solutions to problems. Gifted people can get into discussions with surprising questions and arguments. Their strength is to think outside the box.

• High intelligence: One of the hallmarks of giftedness is high intelligence. An IQ (Intelligence Quotient) of 130 is generally used as a lower limit. Intelligence tests determine the IQ. The average IQ is 100. If you have an IQ of 140, then that score deviates 40 points from the average. In percentage terms, there are as many people with an IQ of 140 as with an IQ of 60.

• High motivation: By this they mean having a great passion, task orientation and the urge to achieve set goals. Gifted people often have an intrinsic motivation to achieve their goals.

Influence Of The Environment

Mönks added the influence of the environment. The environment partly determines whether the qualities that the person has (highly intelligent, high creativity and high motivation) are also visible in striking performances. He mentions the influence of the family, the school and the circle of friends of the gifted person in its childhood. This influence can be both positive and negative.

Heller expands the story even further in his multi-factor model. He sees “giftedness” as something that is not only about intellectual capacities, but can also be, for example, musical, social or physical gifts. He also says that factors in the person have an influence as well. For example, someone may have great musical talent, but suffer from fear of failure to such an extent that it is not possible to perform in front of an audience.

Being highly gifted appears to be basically innate. There are indications that the nervous system of a gifted person can make new connections more easily and more quickly. Whether the person can also translate these innate qualities into exceptional achievements and whether the person is happy depends on many factors, both in his environment and in himself. A gifted person is “different” from most people in several ways. It is not better or worse, but it is different. That is why the gifted person needs other things to be able to develop optimally.

The Traits Of Highly Gifted People

But how do you know if you are gifted, maybe? Well, you do an IQ test! The result of an IQ test gives many gifted individuals a sense of security or reassurance when it turns out positive. But there are many situations where someone does not perform optimally while taking the IQ test. Somebody might perform worse because they have a fear of failure which makes them do the test less successfully. Therefore, the “negative” result does not necessarily mean that you are not gifted.

Another way is to read into the many traits that gifted people have. You can find many lists of traits online. Gifted people often identify with these lists, but the logic does not necessarily work the other way: recognizing yourself in these lists does not mean that you are gifted.

The traits mentioned are not all actually traits of highly gifted people. A large number of these “traits” are experiences, pitfalls or behaviors that we encounter in the gifted. Many of these are based on the fact that gifted individuals belong to a minority. This list therefore serves as a recognition, not as a “diagnostic” instrument.

I did however, make a list for you. Because I do want you to know what a lot of gifted people have in common, so you can get a broader vision of what it entails to be a gifted individual. I put these traits in different categories (I am a sucker for categorizing things, I am autistic after all). I have three categories listed: sensitivity traits, consciousness traits and traits in relation to intelligence, creativity and perseverance.

#1: Sensitivity Traits

You…

• have always felt different from others.
• have low self-esteem and often low self-confidence.
• are sensitive to (loud) noise, light, crowds, smells and other external stimuli.
• feel easily influenced by the moods of others.
• have perfectionistic traits.
• are intuitive.
• can pick up subtle signals from your environment.
• are easily annoyed or impatient.
• are sensitive to pain.
• need to rest after a day at work to reconnect with yourself.
• are more sensitive than average to the effects of nicotine, alcohol and caffeine.
• feel the emotions of others in your own body.
• usually hate violence.
• can be very moved by the beauty of things, like music.

#2: Consciousness Traits

You…

• often quickly find different solutions to problems.
• are or were an outsider at school.
• participated fairly inconspicuously at school. You got along with everyone, but you didn’t really belong to anything.
• are very loyal.
• can take on the whole world one moment and then lose that feeling the next time.
• are a worrier because you are able to see what may go wrong.
• prefer friends who are older than yourself.
• often have to defend your opinion or ideas or they are ignored.
• sometimes doubt your own ideas because you are the only one who seems to think a certain way.
• are regularly told not to be so difficult or so serious.
• would like to make the world a better place and you are already full of ideas about how that should be done.
• feel that you could achieve more than you have done so far.
• have trouble finding inner peace.
• are very loyal and trustworthy in friendships.
• are afraid to take an intelligence test, because what if you fail and giftedness turns out not to be a part of you.
• sometimes you know things, not knowing why that is the case.
• have extraordinary experiences that you cannot always place or explain.

#3: Intelligence, creativity and perseverance traits

You…

• work best in an independent position.
• set high standards for yourself and others and are very critical.
• have great perseverance when you are working on something that you like or need of yourself.
• often have to repeat something or explain it several times. Others don’t get you.
• have your own way of learning.
• don’t find learning difficult, but the way it is presented has to be appropriate.
• have a very strong sense of justice.
• have a special kind of humor.
• hate repetition.
• can spend hours focused on something if it interests you.
• find parties where you can have a good discussion pleasant.
• often feel bored at parties.
• have a large vocabulary, or you understand a lot, but you use that vocabulary a lot less.
• like the details in a discussion and “pick on” others for irregularities in it.
• have unlimited curiosity.
• feel a hunger for knowledge and information in areas that you find interesting.
• could read early on and you still love to read.
• have a full bookcase.
• work on many cases or projects at the same time.
• sometimes find it difficult to get started because you no longer know how to start.
• procrastinate a lot.
• experience trouble completing projects because your attention already moved on to the following.
• work according to fixed procedures or you have difficulty applying structure.
• work the best prior to a deadline and things usually work out just fine.

The Similarities of Highly Sensitive And Highly Gifted People

As you could see in the list of traits, giftedness and high sensitivity overlap in many ways. But they are not necessarily the same thing. Both gifted people and highly sensitive people perceive the world very intense and consciously. Both groups of people notice certain subtleties and discrepancies around them that the gross of the people around them seem to miss.

Next to that, both highly sensitive people and gifted people are aware of their environment and have an above average sensitivity to atmosphere and stimuli. Consequently, this makes both of them react excessively. The information received by the senses is also experienced more intensely and a deeper processing takes place.

Certainly in new environments they can therefore become overwhelmed by the stimuli that they experience. This can make them struggle with certain social matters, such as parties, and really dread it. They will also notice that they need more charging and recovery time than the people around them, who are less sensitive to stimuli.

What’s also the same in both parties, is that they often have the feeling of “not belonging”. Both highly gifted and highly sensitive people might feel a certain distance between them and other people. I’m not saying this is the case for everybody, but it is noticeable more often in these groups of people.

If you are either highly sensitive or highly gifted, there might me a bigger chance of not finding the right connection with other people. Consequently, this may make you feel rejected and misunderstood. Either of these individuals might have heard that they are “too sensitive”, “too emotional”, of “you worry too much, let it go”. Certainly gifted people are regularly called too critical, too difficult, too stubborn or too know-it-all.

Common Differences Between Highly Sensitive And Highly Gifted People

But next to these similarities, there are differences too. One of the biggest differences between giftedness and high sensitivity is the above-average potency and intelligence that is present in giftedness. This is the case if there is an IQ score of 130+. Gifted individuals also have a stronger analytical capacity, are faster in their thinking, are often one step ahead of others and are ahead in their development, which may be noticeable even when they are just a child.

Walking, talking or reading earlier than peers is a clear sign of being ahead in development. It also can develop later, but then they are already above their level. Some gifted people even skip developmental phases. For example, they start walking without having had the crawl phase. Being ahead in development, at home and at school, is not always noticeable. This can be the case when the child grew up in an environment that stood in their way, developmental or learning wise.

It might be the case that you now wonder if you are “only” highly sensitive, or that you are highly gifted too. You might wonder how to figure that out. It can be the case that you feel like there is more to you than just being highly sensitive. You feel like there is still an undiscovered part of you and that high sensitivity doesn’t cover the entire load.

If you feel this way, why not figure it out? Read more about it, make an appointment with somebody who can test you, if you’re able to afford that. In the end, it helps you to understand who you are and how you are wired. Therefore, even if you are not able to get the “scientific answer”, look for what works for you.

(Re)Cognizing Your High Sensitivity As A Highly Gifted Person

Let me first start this by saying that some gifted people might not even recognize their own sensitivities. A lot of them do know they are somewhat sensitive, but they might miss their high sensitivity completely.

When I researched this topic, I read that gifted people often are more ratio-oriented. Which means that they are more “thinkers” and that they tend to “think things out” in their own head. Many gifted people believe that the brain has all the answers, while intuition and emotions play an important role in finding answers.

So, what sensitive, gifted people might miss, is their connection to their own sensitivity. For instance, their ratio could be overdeveloped and the feeling-part less developed. Therefore, it sometimes takes years before gifted individuals understand how highly sensitive they are.

This reinforces when there is or was an unsuitable environment. When you have to adapt a lot because you have few like-minded people around you, it becomes a survival mechanism to close off the feeling aspect. You can no longer use your own intuition. You can also harden towards the outside world and become very black and white in your thinking and in relationships with others. For example, you break friendships abruptly because the other person does not meet your “requirements” or disappoints you in some way.

(Re)Connect With Your Intuition

Key is to get back in touch with your intuition and senses. Learn about who you are as a person, what matters to you and try to ignore your ratio. Try to incorporate some moments during the day to do this. Get back in touch with yourself. Make a habit out of it.

For example, sit down for a moment and try to be aware of your own body. Feel how you are sitting. Try to pay attention to how you feel, next. Do you have an itch? Do you feel your clothing on your skin? How is your stomach feeling? Is it hungry?

Go where your attention goes. What does it tell you? Is it a feeling on a thought of your own?

Take a few deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Relax your shoulders. Take a good stretch. What do you feel now?

You can do this little exercise multiple times during the day. When you are behind your laptop. When you are binging a new show on Netflix. Or when you are in the grocery store. Get out of your head and try to feel. It’ll work wonders for getting back in touch with your senses!

If you’d like to read more about being highly gifted, you may enjoy the book ‘Gifted Grownups: The Mixed Blessings of Extraordinary Potential‘

You May Also Enjoy Reading These Articles

• How To Help People In Your Life Without Being Manipulative
• Highly Sensitive Person and Autism: What is the Difference?
• How To Understand And Listen To Your Intuition
• 4 Powerful Books That Highly Sensitive People Should Read

The post High Sensitivity Versus Being Highly Gifted: The Differences & Similarities appeared first on HiSensitives.

What is human design and how can it benefit highly sensitive people and empaths? In this blog, you’ll find everything you need to know!

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

I am a real personal growth junkie and absorb all the information available out there. Knowing more about myself, my strengths and my life path helps me to find a sense of direction in life.

It is no surprise that I am already aware of my astrology, Myers-Briggs personality type (INFJ, yay!), empathy quotient and all other personality insights you can imagine. I love to discover all aspects of my personality and I am sure that you do too, since you are reading this article.

If you enjoy learning more about yourself, you will love Human Design (HD), I promise! When I first discovered Human Design, I didn’t know what to expect. However, once I learned more about it, I could not stop wanting to know more about Human Design.

This knowledge has to be shared and spread and that is the reason why I share it with you in this blog. I hope that I can inspire you to dive into the world of human design yourself and to use this knowledge in your personal growth journey.

I believe that human design can transform the lives of highly sensitive people and empaths. After reading this article, you’ll know why!

What Is Human Design?

Human Design is a system developed in 1992 by Alan Robert Krakower (now called Ra Uru Hu). This system is a pseudoscience which consists of astrology, I Ching, Kabbalah and the Chakras.

Moreover, it uses data from the exact position of the solar system and star fields in time and space at the moment you were born. Where astrology divides personality into 12 compartments (zodiac signs), Human Design consists of 64 compartments.

These 64 aspects relate to two theories; the 64 hexagrams of I Ching and 64 codons of the human genetic code. Each and every single compartment stands for a certain meaning and the combination of these form our personality, or in other words, Human Design.

The Human Design theory emphasizes that our human cells interact with one major source of energy, the neutrino stream from the Universe. Neutrinos are minute particles which travel at the speed of light and pass through everything and every mass.

Moreover, these neutrinos are passing through our bodies every millisecond of the day. Studies show that neutrinos have mass, which means that they exchange information with everything they pass through.

Hence, when we are born, the neutrinos leave their trace in our bodies, creating a genetic blueprint. As a result, this blueprint becomes our human design.

How Can Human Design Benefit Highly Sensitive People And Empaths?

Understanding the human design print can help highly sensitive people and empaths to thrive in various areas of their lives.

First of all, it provides you with a unique blueprint of who you truly are, where you are heading in life and how you energy is functioning within your body. It goes much deeper than the common astrology we know and is therefore helping you to truly understand yourself.

Moreover, it can help you to better understand your family, friends and co-workers. Learning more about their Human Design charts, helps you to see what energy centers and characteristics in them are activated. Hence, this is incredibly helpful in seeing and understanding how your energy interacts with theirs.

Finally, your Human Design blueprint can support you in creating ease and flow in your life. Once you become aware of your design and the recommendations for utilizing all its opportunities, you can create the life of your dreams.

The Human Design system goes deep and we all know that highly sensitive people and empaths love diving into undiscovered depths! After discovering it, I researched everything about my chart for three days straight and all the information on my chart was spot on. It was amazing.

Now that you know how the chart can benefit you, it is time to introduce you further into the aspects of human design. However, I must say that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

If you would like to dive deep into your Human Design chart, I highly recommend reading the book ‘Human Design: Discover The Person You Were Born To Be‘. This book helped me to understand the basics of my chart within one night! And if you want to read information directly from the source, you may want to read ‘Human Design: The Definitive Book of Human Design, The Science of Differentiation by Ra Uru Hu’.

How To Discover Your Human Design

Now that you learned about the benefits for highly sensitive people and empaths in relation to using Human Design, you can discover your own chart. There are many free HD chart generators out there and I am a big fan of this one.

In order to discover your Human Design, you need to use the following birth data: birth date, birth time and birth place.

Once you filled in your data, your receive your chart. Time to dive into it!

Understanding Human Design: An Introduction For Highly Sensitive People And Empaths

In this introduction to Human Design, I explain the various aspects on your HD chart. In this blog, I will not dive into what each and every single aspect means in detail, as one blog impossibly could cover it all. Luckily, there are valuable books written about Human Design that help you understand each and every single aspect of your HD chart.

I myself, found the book ”Human Design: Discover The Person You Were Born To Be‘ to be incredibly useful in understanding the basics of my chart. It is an easy read and helps you to understand the basic aspects of your own, individual chart.

However, I will help you to understand the basics terms in Human design. Below, I discuss the different aspects on the chart itself, the five types of person, the different authorities and share a brief overview of the 12 profiles.

The Components Of A Human Design Chart Explained

In the picture to the right, you can see my Human Design Chart. I’ll walk you through the different components of it.

The Nine Centers

First of all, you can see 9 large forms shaped in triangles and squares. These are your energy centers and determine how you interact with others and their energy centers.

Ever met a person who drained your energy in an instant? Chances are that there were conflicts between your energy centers!

The 9 energy centers are Crown, Mind, Throat, Heart, Emotions, Root, Sacral, Spleen and Self.

The colour of your centers determines whether these specific centers are defined or undefined. As you can see in my chart, I only have two centers defined and fixed, meaning that 7 are perceptive and open for the energies from other people who do have these centers defined.

Channels

In between these energy centers, there are 36 channels. These channels connect the different centers and transport the energy in your body from one center to another.

If some of your channels are fully colored, this means that they are active channels. However, depending on the colour, you will learn whether it is a conscious (black) or unconscious (orange) connection.

Moreover, if the channels are colored halfway, this means that they are not activated and have no consistent meaning in your life. Yet, these can become activated when you surround yourself with people who do have this channel fully activated.

Gates

In the different centers, you can see 64 numbers called gates. These gates are located in the same spots within each Human Design chart, at the beginning of the different channels. However, when one of the gates is marked with a colour (black, in this case), this means it is turned on in your system.

The gates represent your individual characteristics, predispositions and attitudes. However, depending on the colour streaming from that gate into a channel, it shows you whether it is a conscious (black) or unconscious (orange) trait.

This summarizes the visual aspects on the chart itself. However, there are different signs and numbers on the right and left to your chart. These describe your design and your personality. I will not dive into these aspects in this blog, as this is more advanced Human Design theory which may be interesting for you at a later stage.

The 4 Human Design Types Of Person

Your Human Design Type is based on the centers active in your chart. In total, there are 4 types: the manifestor, the generator (and sub-type the manifesting generator), the projector and the reflector. Below, I briefly explain each type.

Manifestor

Within the manifestor type, one or more of the three motor centers – Heart, Root & Emotions – are activated and also connected to an active throat center. However, the Sacral center is not activated. About 8 percent of the world population are manifestors.

With these energy centers activated, manifestors are real go-getters with a driving energy that allows them to actively achieve their goals. Hence, they always act to get things done and realize their wildest dreams. Manifestors easily express their desires and act on them (due to their highly active motors), because their throat center is defined.

Generator

Generators have a defined Sacral center, but nor this center or their activated motor centers connect to the throat. Moreover, Generators are real workhorses and seem to have an endless supply of energy. Hence, this type keeps going when other types are exhausted.

However, an important note for this type is that they are not initiators, but should wait for the right opportunities in order to fully utilize their potential. Once a generator joins a project somebody else initiated, they are unstoppable!

Sub-type: Manifesting Generator

A sub-type of the generator is the manifesting generator. This sub-type is very similar to the generator, but has a clear connection to an activated throat center. Therefore, this enables manifesting generators to initiate AND be productive. A very useful combination.

However, this type has to make sure to listen to their gut before getting into action, in order to truly live their design and manage their energy well.

Projector

Projectors do not have an activated Sacral center and none of their motor centers are connected to the throat. Consequently, this type needs to make sure to be recognized or invited first, before getting into action. As they do not produce own energy through their sacral, it is very important for them to listen to their authority and apply the strategy to be invited first.

If this type does not follow this strategy, chances are that they easily burn out, because they want to keep up with the pace of generators and manifestors. However, when invited, projectors are excellent organizers, managers, guides and visionaries. About 21% of the world population are projectors.

Reflectors

This is the most rare Human Design type, as only 1% of the world population are reflectors. As none of their energy centers are defined, they are open and receptive for all energies. Therefore, reflectors often show the other types who they truly are, reflecting their energy back at them like a mirror.

Moreover, a reflector magnifies the energies of others, which sometimes can be challenging for this type as it aren’t their energies upsetting them. For reflectors, it therefore is important to remain objective and calm. Hence, realize that most of the energies passing through you aren’t yours.

Authorities

Each Human Design chart also includes the authority type of a person. Your authority determines how you are taking charge of your life. Accordingly, this aspect of Human Design helps you to understand how to trust your decisions, move forward with confidence and remove insecurities. There are six authority types, which are:

• Emotions authority: seeking emotional clarity before making a decision.
• Sacral authority: following your gut and trusting it 100%
• Spleen authority: instant decisions based on your intuition.
• Heart authority: decision-making by attuning to your heart’s desire.
• Self authority: decision-making simply by knowing it is right or wrong for you.
• Outer authority: discovering your inner truth through external factors.

Do you want learn more about how these authorities work? I highly recommend reading ‘Human Design: Discover The Person You Were Born To Be‘.

Human Design Profiles

Finally, Human Design also entails 12 profiles. Your profile shows how your design fits into the bigger scheme of things. Moreover, it provides you with a sense of orientation and being in life. Therefore, it is perfect when you want to discover your purpose in life.

These are the 12 profiles:

1. 1/3: Investigating truth through your experiences
2. 1/4: Investigating your passion and aligning with the right people
3. 2/4: Letting your unique insights be drawn out of you
4. 2/5: Authentic alignment and sharing your truth
5. 3/5: Other people live vicariously through your experiences
6. 3/6: Lifelong experiential learning and knowledge sharing
7. 4/1: Sticking to your truth and sharing it with your community
8. 4/6: Experiences with others brings you wisdom to share
9. 5/1: Share the depths of what you know with integrity
10. 5/2: Sharing the genius or gifts inside you
11. 6/2: Wisdom from your life-long inner process
12. 6/3: Gathering experiences, integrate them and share your wisdom

If you would like to learn more about the twelve human design profiles, the ‘Profile and Type Reference Book’ may be interesting for you.

How Highly Sensitive People Can Live According To Their Human Design

Now that you know more about the basics of Human Design, I hope that you feel intrigued to dive further into it and experiment with it.

In the Human Design world, you experiment with your design. Most likely, you are already aware of many of the traits on your chart. However, there may also be some great revelations.

For example, I always struggled with directly phrasing what I am thinking. Writing felt more natural to me because I had time to word my thoughts properly. When I did not have enough time to think before I spoke, a lot of nonsense came out of my mouth.

When you look at my chart, this relates to the fact that I am a projector whose energy centers are not connected to the throat center (standing for expression and wording your thoughts). Knowing this, gave me the freedom to allow myself to express my thoughts in a way that suits me.

Moreover, living according to your authority enables you to make the right decisions for you. Many of us put our mind above anything else, while only few of us actually should make our decisions there!

Therefore, look at your individual design and experiment with it for a couple of weeks. I am sure that you will acknowledge amazing results!

Human Design Can Be Confronting For Highly Sensitive People And Empaths

When I first acknowledged my design, I experienced mixed emotions. While I recognized many traits within me, there are also certain negative traits that I always thought where part of me, who aren’t represented in my design.

These are characteristics that arose in me due to the conditioning from my past. Hence, it was very emotional to see that these aspects actually are not a part of me. Now, I can work on letting those false perceptions of myself go. It is truly healing.

Therefore, I hope that your design will do the same for you and help you to understand yourself on a whole new level. Utilizing your gifts stated in your HD chart, can help you to manage your energy properly and live the life you have always dreamed of.

Intrigued? Discover your Human Design here for free.

What is your type and could you relate to it? Feel free to share it with other readers in the comments.

You May Also Enjoy Reading These Articles

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• You Create Your Own Reality: Why Being Highly Sensitive Is A Great Privilege
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• Seven Secrets To Transform Spaces Into Sensory Havens
• 3 Strategies To Help A Loved One In Recovery

The post Human Design 101 For Highly Sensitive People And Empaths appeared first on HiSensitives.

Are you often being called too sensitive or too soft? In this blog, we talk about the 60 signs that you are a highly sensitive person.

Hey there, lovely readers! We want to be completely transparent with you. Some of the links in this blog are affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. 😊

We only recommend products and services we genuinely believe in and have personally used or researched. Your support through these links helps us keep bringing you valuable content, so thank you for being amazing!

Estimated reading time: 29 minutes

I am so excited to share this blog with you! HSP coach Tiara from HSPeace coaching and I have combined our strengths to put together this extensive list of signs that you are a highly sensitive person. Based on our own insights from working with and for HSP’s and input from scientific studies we have created this massive list.

If you are anything like me, you have felt like an outsider or different from others for most part of your life. For a long time, you couldn’t make sense of it and perhaps you still can’t. Therefore, I hope that after reading this blog you will be able to understand why you are feeling the way you feel. Perhaps you will discover that you are highly sensitive. Find out by browsing through this extensive list of signs that you are a highly sensitive person.

The 60 Signs That You Are A Highly Sensitive Person

Below, you can find the 60 signs that you might be a highly sensitive person. In the table below, you can directly navigate to the sections that intrigue you.

1. Overthinking

Because of their depth of processing external stimuli, highly sensitive people have a tendency to overthink a lot. Therefore, at times it might feel like you can’t turn off your thoughts. 

Moreover, you might struggle to fall asleep in the evening because your thoughts won’t shut off. 

Oftentimes, highly sensitive people also lay awake in the middle of the night because of their thoughts. These can be thoughts about the past day, thoughts about the future or even thoughts where you obsess about tiny details from the far past.

Hence, overthinking is one of the common sights that you are a highly sensitive person. If you are struggling with a loud and busy mind, you may want to read the book ‘Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts‘.

2. Often Tired

One of the consequences of deep processing and overthinking everything, is that you might feel tired and exhausted all the time. 

Even after 8 full hours of sleep you might wake up and wonder what is wrong with you. Actually, I do this all the time.

Because you process everything so very deeply, you also need more time to rest during the night and throughout the day. This can be challenging for many highly sensitive people in this fast-paced society.

3. Easily Stressed

One of the signs that you are a highly sensitive person is that you tend to feel easily stressed.

As mentioned, highly sensitive people need more rest compared to less sensitive people. Accordingly, packed schedules and many tasks on the to do-list tend to stress out the highly sensitive person easily.

In addition, highly sensitive people are known to be conflict-avoiding and they care deeply about the expectations of others. As a consequence, they hate letting others down and when they sense that this is the case, this can cause great stress within them.

Finally, because of their ability to pick up the tiniest changes in their environment, this can cause great stress when their senses are stimulated in a non-pleasing way. For instance, think about sudden changes in noise levels or brighter lights.

Struggling with stress? The book ‘The Self Care Prescription: Powerful Solutions to Manage Stress, Reduce Anxiety & Increase Wellbeing’ may help you to cope with stress and increase your overall wellbeing as a highly sensitive person.

4. Not Functioning Well When Being Observed

Highly sensitive people are some of the most productive and capable employees you can find. 

While they are performing amazingly when working in a HSP-friendly, calm environment – preferably on their own-, they might function poorly when being observed.

Being observed causes them to feel stressed by the expectations of the others and as you may know, one of the worst fears of an HSP is to let others down. 

Accordingly, this fear for disappointing others causes highly sensitive people to actually perform worse while being observed.

5. Emotional Intensity

Do you sometimes feel that you experience certain emotions more deeply than others? This is one of the signs that you are a highly sensitive person.

In fact, studies show that highly sensitive people are known to process emotions more deeply. Accordingly, they feel emotions more intensely.

This can be a true gift in good times and feel like a curse in bad times. Therefore, it is incredibly important for highly sensitive people to manage emotional regulation.

For example, you might consider to try EFT tapping (emotional freedom therapy). Here is an interesting video upon EFT tapping:

6. Feeling Out Of Place

Because highly sensitive people experience the world differently compared to less sensitive people, they might feel out of place many times.

Society is mostly fast and busy, as less sensitive people seem to have less problems with that pace. However, highly sensitive people might feel out of place and the desire to slow down more often.

Consequently, this different need can cause them to feel different and like ‘the weird kid’. Know that it is completely normal to be highly sensitive and that there is nothing wrong with wanting to live a slower lifestyle.

7. Self-Conscious

Highly sensitive people have a tendency to overthink everything around them – including themselves and their own actions. Hence, the common highly sensitive person is rather self-conscious.

Because of their strong sense of self-consciousness, highly sensitive people often look at ways to improve themselves and grow on a personal level. Also, they tend to reflect in-depth about how they come across to other people.

Therefore, that is why I started HiSensitives together with my fiancé Riny; to support highly sensitive people’s need for personal growth.

8. Extremely Empathic

Highly sensitive people have a heightened amount of mirror neurons in their brain. Mirror neurons enable people to emphasize and feel the pain of others more deeply. 

Accordingly, highly sensitive people often are extremely empathic. As a result, they care deeply about everyone and everything around them and feel other people’s emotions as if they were their own.

If you’d like to learn more about empathy, here’s an interesting video for you:

9. Fear Of Rejection

Due to their extremely empathic nature, highly sensitive people might experience a strong fear of being rejected by others. Especially highly sensitive introverts, who often are labelled as shy, might experience this fear strongly. 

This fear can show itself in the strangest ways: for example by being afraid to raise your hand and speak up – even if you know you have the right answer.

Another way this fear of rejection can show itself is when you are afraid to share your opinion with someone you disagree with, out of fear of being rejected by them.

If you are struggling with a strong fear of rejection, this book may be an inspiring read for you: ‘Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection’

10. Fear Of Failure

Another common fear amongst highly sensitive people is the fear of failure. Because they have a tendency to care so very deeply about everything they take on, the fear of it failing can truly eat us up.

In worst cases, the fear of failure within a highly sensitive person is so strong, that they don’t even dare to take on new projects or give their new dream a chance. To elaborate, the idea that it might fail horrifies a highly sensitive person.

11. Feeling Misunderstood By Others

Do you have a tendency to feel misunderstood by others? Either in relation to how you perceive your environment or how you feel about certain situations? This is one of the common signs that you are a highly sensitive person. 

One thing I recognize often in the HSP community is that before highly sensitive people understand that they are highly sensitive, they feel like ‘the weird kid’. For example, they might feel like they are the only ones in the world experiencing things intensely or different.

However, once you know for sure that you are part of the HSP club, the feeling of being misunderstood will decrease. Finally you will find your people who get it. Who are the same. It will feel like a true relief to you. I know I felt that way.

12. Disliking Loud Noises

Studies show that highly sensitive people process sensory stimulation more intensely. Hence, their senses are heightened and they are more easily overwhelmed by sensory input.

For instance, one type of sensory input that can feel overwhelming to highly sensitive people, are loud noises. Or even worse: loud, unexpected noises. 

Highly sensitive people struggle to function when they are in a noisy environment. Therefore, noise cancelling earbuds (affiliate link) are a highly sensitive person’s best friend.

13. Preferring Dim Lighting

Another result of being easily overwhelmed by sensory input, is that many highly sensitive people prefer dim lighting.

Because it is less overwhelming to their senses, dim lighting is a pleasant and cozy light source to the typical HSP.

14. Loving Art And Music

One of the signs that you are a highly sensitive person, is that you truly appreciate art and music. 

Consequently, you could just sit and listen to (calm) music for hours and feel the words and sounds in every fibre of your body.

The same goes for art; due to their deep sensory processing, beautiful art can trigger wonderful emotions within a highly sensitive person.

15. Loving Animals

A positive side effect of being highly empathic, is that highly sensitive people often love animals. 

Moreover, they can emphasize with their pure, innocent nature and often find comfort in their pets. Comfort, which they sometimes struggle to find within other people.

16. Loving Nature

Similar to being around animals, highly sensitive people seem to truly thrive when being in nature. For instance, a walk in the forest, on the beach or in the mountains can do wonders for their physical and mental health.

Why? Perhaps because the external stimuli from nature is more pleasant to them. No loud car sounds, construction sites and crowds of people. Paradise!

17. Deeply Caring

The empathic nature of a highly sensitive person often results in them caring deeply about everyone and everything around them.

Because of their caring personality, they sometimes struggle to realize that not everyone around them cares as deeply about things as they do. Hence, this can result in frustration and disappointment.

18. Perfectionistic

Highly sensitive people are known to have an incredible eye for detail. Because of that, they tend to be rather perfectionistic. 

Their perfectionism can be a strength in relation to their work, as it causes them to deliver projects of high quality. However, it can also slow them down and sometimes even result in unrealistic expectations towards themselves and never being satisfied with the outcome.

Here’s an incredible podcast upon the topic perfectionism.

19. Strong Inner Critic

Due to their overthinking tendencies, highly sensitive people often struggle with a strong inner critic. In addition, their challenges regarding dealing with criticism, causes their inner critic to remember every tiny bit of criticism they’ve ever received.

As a result, many highly sensitive people often are their own worst critic and almost bully themselves over the tiniest mistakes in their lives. If you struggle with a strong inner critic, this video might be interesting for you:

20. Wanting A Higher Purpose In Life (In Career)

Have you ever found yourself dreading to go to work, because you don’t see the point in doing that job? Most likely, that job was not meaningful enough to you. 

Studies have shown that highly sensitive people can’t just have a job to make money. Hence, their career must be meaningful and support their higher purpose in life.

21. Enjoying Small Things In Life Nobody Else Seems To Notice

One of the other signs that you are a highly sensitive person, is that you enjoy the small things in life which nobody else around you seems to take notice of.

Because highly sensitive people process and notice every tiny detail around them, they are able to notice these seemingly small and simple things.

Have you ever found yourself appreciating the smell of the rain, a light breeze on your skin or the sound of the wind whispering through the trees, while the person you were with was looking at you like you were crazy? Welcome to the world of a highly sensitive person.

Do you want to embrace the small things in life even more? This ’52 Week Guide To Cultivate An Attitude Of Gratitude’ may help you with that!

22. Thinking How The World Operates Right Now Is Too Fast, Competitive, And Multi-task Driven

One of the most common thoughts we notice in our community for highly sensitive people and empaths, is that they are struggling with the pace of (Western) society. For instance, they find it too fast, too focused on competition and struggle with the ideal of working on multiple tasks at the same time.

To demonstrate, ask a highly sensitive person about their dream life and they will most likely talk about a calm home (in nature), with a job that is stress-free and can be performed at their own pace.

23. Often Feeling Guilty

Feeling guilty about things that you say or do is one of the signs that you are a highly sensitive person. Most likely, this origins from the overthinking tendencies of the typical highly sensitive person.

Small discussions or signs that another person is displeased with a certain behavior might be overanalyzed by a highly sensitive person and hence result in feelings of guilt. 

Oftentimes, when you check in with the other person and tell them about your guilt, you will realize that there was no reason to feel guilty about anything in the first place.

If you have been struggling with feelings of guilt your entire life, the book ‘Let Go of the Guilt’ may be a good read for you.

24. Feeling ‘High Maintenance’

Because there are certain things that can result in overwhelm and overstimulation within a highly sensitive person, they might avoid specific situations.

Things that less sensitive people don’t seem to struggle with at all, might feel like a big deal to a highly sensitive person. For instance, think about the yearly weekend getaway with your husband’s entire family. All these people under one roof without a space to find silence, might be incredibly overstimulating for a highly sensitive person. 

Not being able to deal with these types of situations ‘normally’, can cause a highly sensitive person to feel high maintenance. 

However, know that being overwhelmed by certain situations is completely normal when you are highly sensitive and that there is no reason to be ashamed of it.

25. Hearing Phrases Such As “You Are Too Sensitive”

If you are highly sensitive, you most likely have heard one of the following phrases sooner or later in your life:

• “You are so needy”
• “You are too emotional”
• “Just get over it” 
• “Let it go”
• “You are taking things too personal”
• “You are too sensitive”

Do these sound familiar to you? If they do, chances are likely that they were said to you by less sensitive people and that you in fact are highly sensitive. 

Oftentimes, when highly sensitive people don’t know about their trait, they struggle to set healthy boundaries for themselves. Moreover, they push themselves to a level of emotional exhaustion and might occasionally experience ‘emotional overload’. It is often in those situations, when people feel justified to make one of those statements towards an HSP.

While it is not okay at all to be criticised like this, know that you will hear these types of statements less, once you find out how to set healthy boundaries for yourself and learn how to thrive as a highly sensitive person.

26. Very Creative

While no studies currently prove that highly sensitive people are more creative than less sensitive people, their depth of processing external input might result in creative output. However, this is only the case if the highly sensitive person has enough confidence to do so. 

So if you find that you are very creative, this might be a sign that you are highly sensitive. Therefore, once you join a couple of communities for highly sensitive people, you will realize that being creative is a common shared interest among HSP’s.

For instance, if you want to embrace your creativity as a highly sensitive person, the creativity journal ‘Creative Thinking Journal: fun, creative challenges designed to increase your creativity‘ may be what you are looking for!

27. Eye For Detail

Highly sensitive people are known to pay attention to detail. Therefore, they will notice the tiniest, most subtle changes in their environment or in the behavior of a person. 

Oftentimes, they see things which others tend to pass by without noticing.

28. Trying Hard To Be A Good Friend

One of the common signs that you are a highly sensitive person, is that you are trying hard to be a good friend. Oftentimes, you tend to remember the things that others seem to forget. 

When your friend is feeling down, you are doing everything to comfort them in a way that makes them happy. Due to your empathic nature, this comes naturally to you.

29. Worrying About What Others Think Of You

Because you are a highly sensitive empath who feels emotions of others rather easily, you preferably want to be liked by everyone. Therefore you care deeply about what others think of you.

Oftentimes, you might overthink the signals you receive from others and start worrying about whether you did something to upset them or to like you less. If you recognize this behaviour within yourself, this might be an interesting video for you:

30. Feeling Better After Time Alone In Your Own “Sacred” Space

Another sign that you are a highly sensitive person is that you feel like a new person after recharging in your ‘sacred’ space. This could be a cozy living room, your bathroom or your bedroom, depending on where you can relax the most.

This is not only the case for highly sensitive introverts, who prefer downtime alone. Also highly sensitive extroverts need to retreat to their own space to recharge their energy.

31. Preferring Your Own Bed And Home

One of the signs that you are a highly sensitive person, is that you prefer your home above anything else. Why? Because you have (hopefully) adapted your home to your needs. 

Dim lighting, cozy furniture, silent rooms and pleasant smells are one of the main reasons why you prefer your home above a fancy hotel room or staying at a friends house. In addition, a bed that fits your sleeping needs makes you prefer to sleep at home.

Even if you are a high sensation seeker and HSP, nothing beats coming home to your own four walls to recharge after a fun experience.

32. Feeling Better When You Are In Control Of Your Environment

Highly sensitive people might prefer to know what is going to happen around them, as they are easily startled by surprising sounds, lights or experiences. Therefore, they tend to prefer being in an environment which they know well. 

Of course a highly sensitive person is able to adapt to new situations too, but these will most likely overwhelm them greatly due to all the new external input. Hence, they might feel the need to recharge after such an experience.

33. Preferring Your Own Mode Of Transportation Instead Of Public Transport

Another subtle sign that you might be a highly sensitive person, is that you prefer your own transport above public transport. The reason is simple: public transport craves more of your energy.

All the people, the sounds and the smells can feel quite overwhelming to a highly sensitive person. External stimuli, which can be avoided by commuting on your own.

34. Easily Overwhelmed

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were easily overwhelmed? Chances are likely that this situation involved unpredictable, loud sounds, bright lights or too many people around you. 

This is a lot to take in for a highly sensitive person. Due to their depth of processing, the high amount of external stimulation can cause an HSP to feel overwhelmed more easily. 

Accordingly, highly sensitive people might not be the biggest fans of large crowds and events, simply because it overwhelms them to the max.

If overwhelm is a common struggle for you, you may want to discover the book ‘The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You’.

35. Relationships Can Be Intense And Challenging

Highly sensitive people and relationships can be a challenge if the partner, friend or relative does not understand what being a highly sensitive person means. Also, somebody close who does not acknowledge the trait can feel challenging for a highly sensitive person. How?

However, when your partner, friend or relative isn’t aware of the trait or does not want to acknowledge it, you constantly find yourself in situations that overwhelm you and they won’t understand why. 

Accordingly, it is important to talk with them about your sensitivity and your needs and to set healthy boundaries in relationships. This can be an intense progress, as you might face resistance from them. However, be patient and try to show them scientific data to back up what you are trying to tell them. Perhaps you could show them this video:

36. Very Uncomfortable With Violence And Obscenity On Television

One of the common signs that you are a highly sensitive person is that you can’t stand violence and obscenity on television and in movies. For instance, seeing such scenes might even cause you to feel nauseous or to have bad nightmares. 

Accordingly, you might prefer to avoid these types of media.

37. Mood Is Affected Easily

Because of their heightened amount of mirror neurons, empathy and depth of processing, the mood of a highly sensitive person is easily affected by external input. 

Their mood can change due to the mood of others around them, scenes from the news, watching a specific movie, listening to certain music and the list goes on. While this is wonderful with regards to positive energy, it can feel like a true curse when encountering negative input. 

Therefore, it is important for highly sensitive people to spend time to properly ground their energy and stand with both feet steady on the ground. This can for example be achieved by protecting your energy. In this blog, we talk about it with regards to toxic people.

And if you are looking for a great way to manage your mood, this book may be a good place to start: ‘The Book of Moods: How I Turned My Worst Emotions Into My Best Life’

38. In Extreme Cases: Using Drugs Or Alcohol To Numb Emotions

A highly sensitive person who is not aware of their trait and/or is not able to set healthy boundaries for themselves might feel continuous exhaustion and emotional overload. In extreme cases, some might even find temporary relief in alcohol or drugs. However, this is not the perfect solution, as it affects your physical and mental health deeply. 

If you recognize this behavior within yourself, know that there are other ways to learn how to tackle your daily challenges as a highly sensitive person. After all, you do not want to become addicted to alcohol and/or drugs.

For example, you might want to consider seeing an HSP coach. HSP coach Tiara might be able to help you with your struggles and on Dr. Elaine Aron’s website you can find an extensive overview of other HSP experts across the world. Also on our website, you can discover reputable personal growth experts to help you with your challenges.

39. Crying Easily

One of the common signs that you are a highly sensitive person, is that you seem to cry more easily compared to less sensitive people.

As you process external input more deeply both bodily and emotionally, an emotional overload might express itself in a good crying session. When you learn how to ground yourself more properly and set healthy boundaries, you will most likely notice that you will cry less in the future.

40. Anxiety

Because highly sensitive people have heightened activity in the part of their brain responsible for fear – the amygdala -, they also might experience more anxiety compared to less sensitive people. Hence, they come across as more careful and sometimes even nervous to other people. 

Experiencing anxiety might be one of the biggest frustrations of being a highly sensitive person. Anxiety in combination with overthinking can greatly affect one’s feeling of happiness. Accordingly, it might be wise to spend time on learning more about your brain and its patterns and how you can prevent certain destructive thought patterns effectively.

If you struggle with anxiety often, this technique might be interesting for you to try out:

41. Being Told That You Are ‘Too Soft’ And Need To Grow A ‘Thicker Skin’

Has someone ever told you that you are being ‘too soft’ and that you need to grow a ‘thicker skin’? That you need to toughen up? 

These are common things that highly sensitive people hear from their parents, relatives or even their partner. They may mean well when they say those things, but for highly sensitive people this can come across as incredibly hurtful.

Their sensitive nature is something that deserves to be seen and that is needed in the world. Hiding away their trait would mean hiding away who they truly are. 

Therefore, please don’t take these comments too serious and embrace your sensitive side.

42. Strong Intuition And Gut Feeling

Highly sensitive people tend to have a strong intuition, because they notice tiny details that others may not. In addition, their depth of processing this input enables them to connect the dots easily. 

A highly sensitive person can oftentimes sense when someone is struggling, even when that person isn’t saying a word about it. 

Do you want to learn how to understand your intuition better? In the book ‘Radical Intuition: A Revolutionary Guide to Using Your Inner Power‘ you will find useful tips.

43. Few Deep Connections With Others

Another typical sign that you are a highly sensitive person is that you may have few truly deep connections with people around you. Due to your depth of processing certain input, you might find it hard to find people who are able to ‘reach that depth’ with you.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you talked enthusiastically about for example the endless possibilities of the Universe and spirituality, and your conversation partner looked at you with empty eyes, wondering how on earth you could think about those things?

This is quite common for highly sensitive people and might even cause them to feel alone. Know that there are many other people out there who experience it just the same way you do. You can connect with them through HSP communities like this one.

44. People-pleaser

Due to their empathic character, highly sensitive people often are people-pleasers. Since they feel the mood of others and don’t want to disrupt their mood by displeasing them, they often go out of their way to please them.

While pleasing others can be a wonderful characteristic, it is important to make sure that you are not being used by the other person. Ensure to set healthy boundaries in relationships and to know when enough is enough.

If people-pleasing is something you struggle with occasionally, this book may be life changing for you: ‘Not Nice: Stop People Pleasing, Staying Silent, & Feeling Guilty… And Start Speaking Up, Saying No, Asking Boldly, And Unapologetically Being Yourself’

45. Feeling Energies

Have you ever found yourself walking into a room and feeling that something was ‘off’ with it? Seconds later, you found out that the people in that room just had a conflict. 

Being able to feel energies in a room or amongst people can be related to your heightened amount of mirror neurons. Because you notice subtle changes in the behaviour if others, feeling these energy shifts comes natural to you.

46. Sensitive To Caffeine

Another typical sign that you are a highly sensitive person, is that you are sensitive to caffeine. This is not strange, as caffeine acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system of our brains.

A study shows that there was a significant increase in amygdala activity when caffeine was combined with a threatening situation. 

Actually, highly sensitive people already happen to have a higher amount of amygdala activity. Therefore, adding caffeine to that surely can’t be good. This explains why many highly sensitive people react strongly when consuming caffeine.

47. Easily Getting Distracted During A Conversation

While you love having deep conversations with others, you might often find yourself distracted during those conversations. Usually, this occurs when there is too much external stimuli going on around you.

Loud noises, crowds of people and strong smells might distract you from your conversation. Therefore, it might be wise to look for calm places when you intend to have a deep conversation with someone (without being distracted all the time).

48. Getting Scared Easily

One of the typical signs that you are a highly sensitive person, is that you easily get scared. Because your amygdala – the part of the brain responsible for fear and the fight-, flight- and freeze reaction – already is more active, being scared by someone pushes it over the top.

49. Performing Worse Under Time Pressure

Highly sensitive people prefer slow living and focusing on one task at a time. Because they are perfectionists and pay close attention to detail, they become very stressed when they don’t have the time to practice those skills.

This in combination with their fear of failure results in great stress within them, which again might limit them in performing as well as usually.

50. Becoming ‘Hangry’ Very Easily

Have you ever found yourself binge eating after a rough day? Do you get ‘hangry’ easily on those days? According to this article, highly sensitive people often experience binge eating and weight gaining. This occurs due to their body’s reaction to negative influences from the environment they find themselves in.

By adding a layer of fat to our body, our body attempts to shield itself as protection against negative circumstances and energies. Hence, the eating. 

Therefore, make sure to eat nutritional food that is good for you if you feel hangry. However, the best solution is to find other ways to protect yourself from negative influences by setting healthy boundaries, taking a step back or avoiding negative influences that don’t serve you or your life.

51. Struggling To Deal With Change

Another common sign that you are a highly sensitive person, is that you struggle to deal with changes. Changes often have a major influence on our daily rhythms and the tendency to bring us out of balance.

As highly sensitive people do their best to remain balanced in a rather fast paced world, that is not suited well towards the needs of an HSP, change can be truly frustrating. However, while you’re trying to prepare yourself the best you can for change, unforeseen situations still happen to occur. 

I remember when we moved to our new, beautiful home and it took me 4 (!) months to truly get used to this change. Although we had planned the move for quite a while and made sure to not stress too much, it still was an incredibly stressful event.

If change is one of your biggest struggles, you may want to have a look at this book: ‘Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age’

52. You Were Labeled As Sensitive Or Shy As A Kid

Highly sensitive people were often labeled as shy or ‘too sensitive’ when they were children. Oftentimes, this shyness simply was a coping mechanism for the highly sensitive child, who most likely was overwhelmed and overstimulated. 

Because many people and especially the older generations weren’t aware of the HSP trait, these were common labels to refer to. Nowadays, the HSP trait is recognized more easily in children and more and more people are learning about the trait. 

53. Struggling To Stay Concentrated

Highly sensitive people might have difficulties to stay concentrated and focused while working. For example, when there are unexpected noises or smells in their environment, chances are likely that they will be distracted by it.

These distractions might annoy them so much that their head feels ‘cluttered’ by it and they might feel a spontaneous need to get rid of the disturbance. First when it is cleared, they can continue to focus.

Are you having serious concentration issues? This book may offer some useful insights: ’10-Minute Focus: 25 Habits for Mastering Your Concentration and Eliminating Distractions’

54. Feeling Like You Don’t Fit In The “9 to 5”-Rhythm Of Society

The standard society truly isn’t made for highly sensitive people. Moreover, the idea to work for 8 hours straight with almost no rest, while preferably performing as many tasks as possible at the same time before a certain deadline, was certainly not created by a highly sensitive person.

Highly sensitive people tend to prefer working hours stretched out throughout the day, so they have enough time to rest in between working sessions and recharge their energy. Thankfully, big companies are acknowledging the benefits of this working structure more and more.

55. You Are Very Sensitive To Pain

Questionnaires have shown that highly sensitive people are more affected by pain than less sensitive people.

Due to them processing external stimuli more intensely, it is logical that also internal stimuli such as pain can affect a highly sensitive person deeply.

56. Worrying about the future and the past

If you find yourself worrying much about the future and the past, this might be one of the signs that you are a highly sensitive person. 

Because you might tend towards overthinking things and processing them deeply, it is logical that worrying about the future and the past are part of it as well.

For the ‘worriers’ amongst you, here’s an interesting video:

57. People Easily Open Up To You

Have you ever found yourself walking in public and suddenly being approached by strangers telling you their entire life story? Actually, this is a common experience for highly sensitive empaths.

People sense the sensitive and empathic nature of an HSP and know that they most likely will be able to receive the support that they need. Hence, this is one of the typical signs that you are a highly sensitive person.

58. Feeling When People Aren’t Telling The Truth Or Hiding Something

Because of the heightened amount of mirror neurons, highly sensitive people are able to read the emotions of others exceptionally well. Hence, they also often have the skill to feel when somebody is lying or hiding something.

They notice the subtle changes in body language and tone of voice, which others might seem to look past.

59. Smelling Things Others Can’t Smell

As a result of their heightened processing of external stimuli, highly sensitive people are more sensitive towards smell. Accordingly, they might notice the tiniest changes in the smell of their surroundings.

While this is a wonderful gift when for example smelling pleasant smells like flower fragrances, this can be truly frustrating. Especially when someone in your surroundings has an unpleasant perfume which others don’t seem to be bothered by.

60. Getting Overwhelmed By Doing Too Many Things At Once

Finally, one of the signs that you are a highly sensitive person is that you easily get overwhelmed when doing too many things at once. 

Because you prefer to pay attention to detail and perhaps even are perfectionistic, doing too many tasks at the same time disables you from practicing those skills. Hence, it can become a rather overwhelming experience to multitask.

Am I Highly Sensitive?

If you would like to confirm that you are a highly sensitive person after reading this article, you can take the official self test here. 

I hope that you found this extensive list of signs that you are a highly sensitive person useful and that you’ll share it with your friends, family and partner.

Do you think that you are highly sensitive after reading this article? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below!

And if you want to deep dive into the HSP trait, I highly recommend you to start with the book ‘The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You’. It is a great, informative book based on scientific research, that introduces you to the concept of being a highly sensitive person and provides you with valuable tips on how to thrive.

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The post 60 Signs That You Are A Highly Sensitive Person appeared first on HiSensitives.

Archetypes tell us that the soul has certain functions that must be lived out to remain faithful to one’s being. Learn more about them in this article.

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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Did you know that the soul also has its own set of archetypes? Coming from a book called Messages from Michael in 1979, the novelist Chelsea Quinn Yarbro writes about the concept of the soul archetypes. As the story goes, the content of this book was not from hers, but from a mysterious entity named Michael.

Given this shrouded mystery, the whole group who practiced spirituality during this time were known to have used an Ouija board to connect with a higher spiritual being. As such, the name Michael came up, providing them with some essential religious concepts for everyday life.   

The 7 Archetypes Of Your Soul

Following this tradition, they believe that the soul undergoes human reincarnation. Destined to experience the world and all its aspects, the soul will continually do so on different lifetimes so as to learn more about consciousness and reality. By experiencing it numerous times, the soul becomes more and more knowledgeable about knowledge itself. In the end, the soul becomes integrated into higher intelligence.   

In essence, these archetypes tell us that the soul has specific functions that must be lived out in order to remain faithful to one’s being. As such, we will layout those concepts in this article, giving you a good idea of their meaning and function. 

1. Artisans

Naturally creative, the artisans are gifted with the ability to turn thought into reality. By examining the current schemes and patterns, they are able to create something new and original. For instance, artisans are good at reinventing not only art, but also other fields such as engineering and sciences. With that, their life purpose is to create something that brings positive energy to us. By doing so, they will be able to serve their life purpose of impacting the wellbeing of those around them.  

2. Kings

Born to become the ruler, the king is destined for power and greatness. Like the aristocrats who were born and raised to become leaders, the king’s path is something that they haven’t chosen for themselves. Instead, their soul archetype necessitates them to walk this narrow and lonely road as this is their destiny. With that, the king must be able to surpass the internal and external challenges, as power-hungry moguls remain a constant threat, on top of personal bias and struggle to resist temptations. 

3. Warriors

Destined to become the hero of a town, the warrior’s path will naturally involve a lot of challenges and struggles. As such, they will continually level-up by facing those struggles and conquering them one by one. Such experiences will add to their overall growth, making them more capable of helping others. In doing such, they will be able to live out their soul archetype as they serve their life’s purpose along the way. 

4. Sages

Whereas the scholar is usually concerned about worldly knowledge and wisdom, the philosopher is more about magic and transcendence. Like sorcerers and magicians, the sage’s destiny is to pursue transcendental powers such as those found in spirituality and meditation. Because man never lives on bread alone, we also need to fill in our spiritual self as part of the process. With the help of the sage, this idea is lived-out and actualized. Furthermore, they are also responsible for cross-dimensional issues, making possible for man to deal even with those that transcend him/her. 

5. Scholars

Known to be knowledge and wisdom seekers, the scholars will spend a lifetime inside the library. In their quest of gaining and creating new knowledge, the scholar dramatically contributes to society this way. Because they are skilled at thinking and crafting their thoughts, the output of such is meant to illuminate others. With that, their life goal is to ensure that their knowledge is passed on and that it becomes available to others. Instead of being in an ivory tower,  the scholar must become a beacon of light. 

6. Servers

As the workforce of society, the server represents the one who dedicates themselves to others. Essential to society itself, the server is an indispensable element for progress. Since they dedicate themselves for the progression of the world, their efforts will lead to the realization of a common goal. With that, they will live their life purpose by ensuring that they become of best use to the master they choose to serve. 

7. Priests

Destined to bring positivity and hope, the priest’s life goal is to nourish our soul. Since we all have that spiritual dimension in us, the priest ensures that we are able to feed this spiritual dimension by providing the necessary spiritual goods that we must have. By doing so, they are serving their life purpose of bringing joy and motivation to us. Thus, we usually find them as spiritual leaders of a group or religion itself, for it is the best avenue for them to impact the lives of other people. 

Good luck with discovering your soul’s archetype!

With these 7 soul archetypes, we hope to have imparted some valuable information to you. Since each soul must experience this journey between the archetypes, bearing such concepts in mind will surely help in the whole process of integration. By experiencing these roles one by one, the soul will surely gain a greater understanding and knowledge each time it is reincarnated.

Click here if you would like to know more about the archetypes!

About The Author

This post is written by Chris Dayagdag, a writer and researcher from individualogist.com. Individualogist is a personal development and self-improvement platform that has guided its tight-knit community of transformational enthusiasts to make remarkable breakthroughs in their lives, all through their unique approach to Carl Jung’s theory of the 12 archetypes. Instagram: @individualogistig Facebook: @individualogist

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The post Archetypes Of Your Soul: Life Path And Soul Purpose appeared first on HiSensitives.

Your extroverted child could be a highly sensitive child. In this article, we explain how you can find out if your extroverted child is a HSC.

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Do You Think That Your Child Is A Highly Sensitive Child?

Are you a parent and raising an extroverted child? Do you think that because your child is extroverted, it is impossible for him or her to be highly sensitive? Think again!

There is a chance that your child in fact is a highly sensitive child (HSC). Read here why it is important to know if your extroverted child is highly sensitive and how to identify the trait in them.

The Common Misconception When It Comes To Highly Sensitive Children

When people describe highly sensitive children, they usually call them shy, introverted and calm: they are the children who don’t want to be the center of attention and whom you find somewhere in the corner drawing or playing with lego’s. Rarely would people call a highly sensitive child extroverted and wild.

It is a common misconception that highly sensitive children always have to be introverted and shy. As a result, many extroverted highly sensitive children wander around wondering why they feel and experience so differently compared to other children around them. However, there are many different types of highly sensitive people.

Why Is It Important To Identify A Highly Sensitive Child At An Early Age?

You might ask yourself why there is any added value to identify if your child is highly sensitive. Perhaps, you prefer not to give your child a label at such a young age.

It is understandable, but trust me: it is so confusing for a child to walk around wondering why they feel the way they do and are the way they are. In fact, I speak from experience, because I was an unlabeled extroverted highly sensitive child myself.

The Consequences Of Not Identifying The Trait In Time

I discovered that I was highly sensitive at the age of 22. Before that, I felt like too much, too weird, too strange, too emotional, too sensitive, too different from the rest. There are a lot of ‘too’s’ here, right?

In fact, not knowing about my high sensitivity at a young age, impacted my self-esteem in a negative way. All the years before knowing about my trait, I was trying to fit in, trying to be less of this and more of that. Trying to cope and do what everybody else does.

I cannot count how many times I unconsciously went past my boundaries and ended up feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. I do believe that many highly sensitive extroverts can relate to this. Being an extrovert and not knowing about your trait leaves you feeling confused and in a state of constant overwhelm.

Positive Effects Of Knowing That Your Extroverted Child Is A Highly Sensitive Child

As you can see, the consequences of not knowing about my trait caused me to feel deeply unhappy. If I would have known earlier about my trait and been able to read up on it, I am sure that I would have avoided many upsetting situations.

Therefore, I can highly recommend you to identify if your extroverted child is a highly sensitive child. Not only will it give you a better understanding of your child and its needs, but it will also help your child to understand itself better.

Besides, this knowledge can help your child to discover its gifts and strengths at a young age. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of sensitivity, your child will be able to embrace the wonderful characteristics that come with high sensitivity and use them to lead a happy life.

How Do I Find Out If My Extroverted Kid Is A Highly Sensitive Child?

My parents did not know that I was highly sensitive, which is not strange. I was born in 1992 and Dr. Elaine Aron performed her first research upon highly sensitive people back in 1996. Before that time, highly sensitive people were simply labeled as shy and introverted, which explains why extroverted highly sensitive people struggled to understand their personality traits and way of perceiving the world.

Thankfully, we live in a different era now where research and tons of information are available to parents of HSC’s. In fact, Dr. Aron wrote a book about highly sensitive children which you might want to read. Reading this book will help you in identifying if your child is highly sensitive. Besides, there are several tests that you can answer in order to see if your extroverted child is a highly sensitive child. Overall, there are some common traits that extroverted highly sensitive children share, which are:

1. They Are Kind-hearted

Your child has a big heart and shows this very often. He or she cares deeply about everything and everyone around them and wants to please everyone. They have a pure heart and you might be afraid that the brutal society we live in will hurt your child. Don’t worry, thousands of other highly sensitive people have managed to thrive in life despite their trait and their kind hearts.

2. They Are Observant And Extremely Aware Of Details

Highly sensitive children who are extroverted seem to observe every tiny detail around them. Things such as music, art, an intense movie or dancing impact your child deeply and he or she seems to thrive in these situations.

3. They Are Very Social

Your child is extremely social and loves to be around people. He or she does not have a hard time to make new friends and you don’t have to worry about whether they will fit in at school.

4. All The Feels

You child is very emotional and seems to be touched by the smallest things – both positively and negatively. When something beautiful happens, they can show intense enthusiasm, while they can break out in tears and feel angry about the smallest upsetting events.

It is important for you to acknowledge that your child’s emotions are all okay and to help them understand why they feel the way they do. Most important, let them know that there is nothing wrong at all about feeling all the feels and that there are many people like them out there who are like this.

5. Your Highly Sensitive Child Is Creative

A common trait of highly sensitive people is that they are very creative. Therefore, when you see that your child loves to be creative and/or is very skilled at it too, this might indicate that he or she is highly sensitive. Highly sensitive children love to draw, paint, make music, dance and generally engage in creative activities.

6. Your Child Loves Social Events

Extroverted highly sensitive children love to be at social events such as a family BBQ, a school party, or a day at the Zoo. They seem to thrive around people. However, it is important to avoid overstimulation when doing this kind of activity.

7. Your Child NEEDS To Recharge

Just because your child does enjoy social events and socializing with people, it does not mean that they have an endless supply of energy.

If your extroverted child is a highly sensitive child, it is important for you to protect their boundaries, because they don’t know them yet. For example, if your child falls asleep at the most random places while playing or during a family gathering, chances are big that you did not take them out of the situation in time and they desperately had to recharge. Make sure to notice the subtle signals that your child has had enough and give them space to recharge.

8. Deep Thinkers

Highly sensitive children are deep thinkers and tend to ask questions which you wouldn’t expect a child to ask you. They are philosophical and think much about the past, the present and the future. Also, this causes them to be deeply engaged in topics that interest them. Due to their deep thinking, extroverted highly sensitive children make great activists. 

9. Empathic

Highly sensitive children, just like highly sensitive adults, tend to be extremely empathic. They want everyone around them to be happy and if they aren’t, they try to cheer them up in every way possible. Highly sensitive children who also are extroverted are extremely talented at comforting other people around them.

10. Overwhelm Can Cause Emotional Outbreaks

Because your extroverted child continuously acknowledges everything around them deeply, they might become easier overwhelmed, which again might result in emotional outbreaks such as rage, tears or annoyance. External stimuli such as light, sounds, touch, taste or smell, socializing and the emotions of others all influence the mood of your child.

When you are aware of this, you can create a more HSP-friendly life for your highly sensitive child and protect his/her boundaries in time. This doesn’t mean that you have to stay away from all stimulating situations, but simply that you leave in time before your child reaches a point where he/she has an emotional outbreak.

11. Closely Connected To Animals And Nature

Many extroverted highly sensitive children are deeply connected with nature and animals. When you put your child in situations where they get to connect with nature and animals, they will most likely thrive and seem more calm than normal. If you notice that your extroverted highly sensitive child seems overwhelmed, take them into nature and see their mood change within an eyeblink!

12. They Love Being In Groups

Extroverted highly sensitive children love to be in groups and don’t mind to be in the center of attention. Often, they love to cooperate with others and therefore, they thrive in group projects at school.

13. Easily Distracted

Because of the constant recognition of external stimuli, extroverted highly sensitive children are more easily distracted. As soon as they notice a friend doing something specific around them or somebody moving around in the room, they get distracted from what they are doing.

14. High Sensation Seekers

A specific personality type within highly sensitive people, are high sensation seekers. These are highly sensitive people who tend to take risks and want to go on new adventures as often as possible. This trait is more common within extrovert highly sensitive people than within highly sensitive introverts. For example, your child might climb into tall trees, be seemingly wild and love to go to unknown places. In that case, chances are big that your highly sensitive child also is a high sensation seeker. It is very important to protect the boundaries of your child if he or she is highly sensitive and a high sensation seeker.

Not All Highly Sensitive Children Are The Same

Not all highly sensitive children are the same and it is important to raise more awareness about extroverted highly sensitive children, as their trait often goes unacknowledged due to their extroverted personality. Hopefully, you were able to identify if your extroverted child is a highly sensitive child. If you are still doubting, we highly recommend you to take this test or to seek help from a professional HSP expert to identify if your child is a HSC.

If you are a highly sensitive parent, you may enjoy this book. It can help you to become a better parent and thrive as a highly sensitive parent.

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• Highly Sensitive People Share Their Opinion About Raising Children
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The post Is My Extroverted Kid A Highly Sensitive Child appeared first on HiSensitives.

You know that you are an empath, but do you know which type(s) of empath you are? In this article, we explain the six different types of empaths.

Estimated reading time: 94 minutes

Most likely, you already are aware of the fact that you are an empath. However, did you know that there are many different types of empaths? Being an empath is not just about feeling everything around us on a deeper level; it is a gift that knows many varieties. Each empath has unique skills, which you will discover in this article.

Knowing your empath type can be a true revelation in order to get to know yourself better and thrive in life. Not only does it provide you with insights into your talents and capabilities, but it also gives you more knowledge about how to manage your energy. Therefore, have a look at these 6 most common types of empaths and see which types resonate the most with you.

Before you scroll further, we invite you to explore our free community for HSPs and empaths. Here you can connect with like minded people on personal growth in a non-overwhelming social media environment.

What Is An Empath?

An empath is someone who ‘absorbs and feels other people’s emotions and/or physical symptoms due to their high sensitivities’. Consequently, this enables them to be excellent caregivers, friends, and spouses. Moreover, their extraordinary ability to empathize with all types of situations provides them with real superpowers.

However, being an empath also brings along certain challenges. For instance, an empath can feel recharged and happy in the morning and then end up feeling exhausted and empty by the evening. Knowing more about the different types of empaths and identifying your own empath type can help you to become more aware of your energy leaks and take better care of yourself as an empath.

If you want to learn everything you need to know about thriving as an empath, you may want to discover ‘The Empath’s Workbook: Practical Strategies for Nurturing Your Unique Gifts and Living an Empowered Life‘.

What Are The 6 Types Of Empaths?

If you have recognized signs that you are an empath within yourself, you might wonder which type of empath you are. After all, empathy carries a broad spectrum of gifts and no two empaths are the same.

The following 6 empath types are the most common: emotional empaths, physical empaths, geomantic empaths, earth empaths, animal empaths, and intuitive empaths. Let’s have a look at each empath type along with the unique gifts & challenges of each type.

1. The Emotional Empath

Emotional empaths have the ability to physically feel the emotions of other people. In fact, it may seem as if the emotions of others are contagious for emotional empaths. This can be related to the mirror neuron system: researchers found that a specific group of brain cells are responsible for the ability to show and feel compassion. Moreover, empaths appear to have hyper-responsive mirror neurons.

This allows them to deeply understand and resonate with other people’s feelings and emotions. As a result, an emotional empath may cry along with a complete stranger, simply because their highly responsive mirror neurons respond to the emotions they are witnessing.

What Gifts Does The Emotional Empath Have?

Because of their highly responsive mirror neurons, emotional empaths oftentimes are excellent conversation partners. Their ability to ‘live’ the emotions of others makes others feel understood and heard. As a result, friends, co-workers, family members, and sometimes even complete strangers tend to share their inner thoughts rather easily with the emotional empath. Due to their exceptional talent to empathize with others, emotional empaths make great therapists and counselors.

The Challenges Of Being An Emotional Empath

One of the downsides of emotional empathy is that many emotional empaths lack the skill to protect their energy field from the emotions of others. Hence, they let in everything that their brain registers, causing them to feel easily burned out. In addition, emotional empathy can make it difficult to differentiate other people’s emotions from your own. As a result, emotional empaths may feel confused about why they feel the way they feel and struggle to function properly. 

How To Deal With Being An Emotional Empath

As an emotional empath, it is important to become aware of your gifts and use them in the best way possible. Also, it is crucial to be conscious about the energy you let in, since becoming emotionally overloaded is a common challenge for emotional empaths. By learning how to protect your energy field and releasing stress that arises throughout the day, you can be a happy empath.

If you’d like to discover ways to regulate your emotions, you may want to have a look at the book ‘Master Your Emotions: A Practical Guide to Overcome Negativity and Better Manage Your Feelings’.

2. The Physical Empath

Physical empaths are empaths who feel and absorb the pain and symptoms of others. If you find yourself suddenly feeling ill while being around somebody struggling with a specific disease, you may in fact be a physical empath. 

According to Dr. Judith Orloff, many physical empaths do not have the capability like others to screen things out. As a result, they often feel ill and get labeled with panic disorders, pain, chronic depression, fatigue, and more.

What Gifts Does A Physical Empath Have?

While being a physical empath may seem like a burden, it is in fact a great gift to possess. Because of their abilities to empathize with the pains of others, physical empaths have the potential to work in dental care or become great doctors, nurses, and health practitioners. Their empathy enables them to locate the source of pain more easily and help others in their healing. When the physical empath stands in their power, they can touch the lives of many with their abilities.

The Challenges Of Being A Physical Empath

While it can be a wonderful gift when you are working in the medical or therapeutical field, being a physical empath can be truly exhausting and painful when you aren’t protected properly. Some physical empaths are housebound or have been ill for years. Moreover, they dread going outside because other people’s stress, anger, and pain drain them and cause them to be unable to function properly. Consequently, this emphasizes the importance of self-care and grounding for physical empaths.

How To Deal With Being A Physical Empath

Creating a healthy daily self-care routine is the key to thriving as a physical empath. Make sure to protect your energy field in the morning and cleanse your energy field before going to bed at night. If you work as a health practitioner, you may even want to cleanse your energy field in between clients.

When you learn how to ground yourself, protect your energy field, set healthy boundaries, and let go of pain from the past and from others, you may get rid of many of these symptoms. These free apps might help you with some of these methods.

3. Geomantic Empaths

Have you ever found yourself happy at a specific place without knowing why? You might be a geomantic empath! Geomantic empaths are empaths who have fine attunement to the physical landscape. Physical landscape such as a place or specific environment.

Moreover, these empaths find themselves happy, recharged, or incredibly uncomfortable in certain places with no apparent reason. In addition, geomantic empaths are deeply connected to specific places and feel drawn to sacred places, churches, or other spiritual environments.

What Gifts Does A Geomantic Empath Have?

Geomantic Empaths are very skilled at identifying the history of a place. They may pick up on energies from events that happened at specific places. Consequently, they can experience fear, joy, pain, or other emotions that a specific place carries.

This ability often awakens a deep need to discover more about specific places and their history. Hence, geomantic empaths thrive in professions like historians and archeologists.

The Challenges Of Being A Geomantic Empath

Geomantic empaths often feel deeply connected to places, which can make it emotionally painful to witness natural spaces being harmed or destroyed. They may even break down in tears when environments they cherish are damaged. This strong connection can also lead to confusion, as it’s not always clear why certain locations evoke such intense emotions. The frequent shifts in surroundings and emotional responses can make it hard for them to distinguish their own feelings, sometimes leading to anxiety or, in severe cases, depression.

To stay balanced, it’s important for geomantic empaths to stay grounded. Tools like grounding mats can offer consistent support throughout the year. These empaths may also feel overwhelmed by specific places, so maintaining energetic balance and grounding practices is key to emotional well-being.

How To Deal With Being A Geomantic Empath

As mentioned, the geomantic empath needs to focus greatly on grounding their energy. Therefore, try implementing a grounding ritual into your daily routine. For instance, visualize in the morning how you are ‘anchoring’ your energy deep into the core of the earth. Then, imagine how all energies that don’t serve you or aren’t yours are transferred through this cord into the earth to be recycled. Doing so can help you to feel everything that needs to be felt, but not carry it with you for too long.

4. Earth Empaths

Earth empaths are empaths who are deeply connected with Earth and all its natural powers. Powerful waterfalls, sunbeams, and moonlight can energize these types of empaths. Moreover, earth empaths are able to sense Earth’s changes, such as changes in weather, astrological changes, or changes in the ocean’s tides. Oftentimes, earth empaths are the ones telling everyone to go inside because it is going to rain soon. Relatable?

What Gifts Does An Earth Empath Have?

Because of their fine attunement with the earth, earth empaths have a unique connection to nature. They are the warriors of mother earth, making sure that the planet is treated right and consciously. Earth empaths’ deep connection to the earth enables them to be excellent activists. They don’t want to see anybody harm our nature and do everything in their power to stop that.

The Challenges Of Being An Earth Empath

While being an earth empath is a wonderful gift, it can be challenging to experience all the energies from the earth. Especially when something negative is going on, this can be deeply upsetting. For example, when an earthquake or tsunami hits, earth empaths sense it prior to the event and feel deeply upset. Moreover, some earth empaths may experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), because they are sensitive to weather changes and adjustments in the amount of daylight.

How To Deal With Being An Earth Empath?

Due to their deep attunement to mother earth, earth empaths need to connect to its energy frequently. Through grounding exercises, the earth empath can realize this connection easily. A grounding mat can help you in this process – especially during the cold winter months. Also, earth empaths should focus on actions that are good for the planet. While walking outside, bring along a bag to collect trash items near the way. Or perhaps, you could support a few initiatives that are good for the health of our planet. Taking care of the earth’s needs will help the earth empath to feel more at peace.

5. Intuitive Empaths

Intuitive empaths are types of empaths who have a lot in common with emotional empaths. However, they are able to distinguish between their own feelings and those of others. Due to the fact that they are so in tune with their inner state, they are able to understand which emotions, feelings, or pains come from their surroundings. As a result, they manage to create a protective shield that enables them to separate themselves from other people energetically by choice.

What Gifts Does An Intuitive Empath Have?

Because these types of empaths are so in tune with their own inner state, they are able to view things from a broad perspective and identify links between cause and effect. Consequently, this helps them to comprehend the emotions and feelings of other people and helps them to understand their feelings. Finally, this skill also allows intuitive empaths to take on caregiving roles such as being a therapist, coach, or teacher.

The Challenges Of Being An Intuitive Empath

While the intuition that intuitive empaths have is a great skill, it can be experienced as confusing when they are unable to differentiate between their intuition and a feeling. If they would treat every feeling as an intuitive hint, they would be all over the place. Therefore, it can be tough to distinguish between what is truly a gut feeling and what isn’t. Moreover, intuitive empaths know when somebody lies to them, which at times can be confusing, as they don’t have proof for it.

How To Deal With Being An Intuitive Empath?

The intuitive empath needs to ensure that their energy is grounded at all times. Otherwise, they may find themselves becoming too attached to the emotions and feelings of others, not knowing which are their own. Moreover, it is harder to connect to your intuition when there is much noise like anxiety, anger, or resentment. Therefore, silencing this noise by meditating regularly helps the intuitive empath to feel the inner peace that is needed to connect to intuition.

If you are an intuitive empath, you may want to discover the book ‘The Intuitive Empath: A Unique Guide On How Highly Sensitive People Can Heal Psychologically And Spiritually. Learn Ways To Use Your Gift Of Intuition And Go From Surviving To Thriving.’

6. Animal Empaths

Animal empaths are able to recognize what mental state an animal is in. As a result, they are able to positively influence the animal’s behavior. Due to the fact that they understand the signals of the animals, they are able to be true animal-whisperers. These types of empaths feel deeply connected to animals, are often vegans or vegetarians, are more drawn towards animals than people, and experience rather often that animals come to them.

What Gifts Does An Animal Empath Have?

Their exceptional ability to connect to animals makes animal empaths great animal caregivers. They seem to understand the animals’ needs effortlessly. As a result, animals that are struggling oftentimes find their ways into the caring embrace of the animal empath. Many animal empaths work at animal shelters or as veterinarians, dog groomers, or dog walkers. They love animals and animals love them!

The Challenges Of Being An Animal Empath

Animal empaths have a wonderful gift, but it can be tough in this meat-eating, animal-cruel society. Consequently, animal empaths struggle with the way society handles animals. Hence, they experience great pain when they see an animal getting mistreated. Consequently, animal empaths often try to change the world for the better by becoming activists and increasing awareness around this industry.

How To Deal With Being An Animal Empath?

If you are an animal empath, the best thing you can do is to surround yourself with animals. Whether it be as pets or by volunteering at a local animal shelter – make sure to connect with animals as often as you can. Also, you may want to consider becoming a vegetarian – or even go vegan – to fully lean into your energetic state as an animal empath. Finally, supporting organizations that help animals can feel very satisfactory for you as an animal empath.

Can You Be More Than One Type Of Empath?

If you read through this article, relating to more than one of the types of empaths, that is fully possible. Empathy comes in many forms, which all can express themselves within you. However, you may notice that one or two of the abovementioned types are more evolved within you. We recommend you experiment with the self-care methods suggested in this article to truly thrive as an empath.

So, Which Type Are You?

After having read this article, were you able to identify which of these types of empaths you are? Perhaps, you are more than one type? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

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The post The 6 Types Of Empaths: Which One Are You? appeared first on HiSensitives.

Do you sometimes wonder if you are an empath, or maybe even a super empath? These 20 signs indicate that you are a true empath!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that we recommend products or services that we know well and may receive a commission if you purchase them too (at no additional cost to you).

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

What Is An Empath?

According to Dr. Judith Orloff, empaths are people who feel and absorb other people’s emotions and/or physical symptoms. Furthermore, they are deeply-caring, kind and sensitive souls who follow their intuition and find it hard to rationalize their feelings. As a result, they often feel misunderstood by the less empathic and sensitive members of our society. In fact, studies indicate that 15-20 percent of the world population are highly sensitive and many of these highly sensitive people carry empathic traits as well. However, data in relation to how many people in the world are empaths is still not validated by research.

Super Empaths

Although there aren’t many studies confirming the exact number of empaths in the world, one study found that approximately 1 to 2 percent of the world population are super empaths. In fact, super empaths are empaths who literally feel the touch on their skin when they see that someone else is being touched. This phenomenon is called mirror-touch synaesthesia.

Also, you may find this article about the different types of empaths interesting.

20 Signs That You Are An Empath

Are you wondering if you are an empath, or maybe even a super empath? These 20 signs indicate that you are!

1. Empaths Absorb Other People’s Emotions

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you went to a social gathering and went home completely drained? You were out of energy and didn’t understand why. Chances are high that you listened to other people’s problems and unconsciously absorbed their pain. Perhaps, you mirrored their feelings and felt their pain as if it was your own. Consequently, it can be tough to let go of this when leaving the person. You literally take their pain home with you. In case you recognize this, you should try to do a ‘cut the rope-ceremony’. For example, you could try this ritual.

And if you want to learn how to protect your energy from others, this book may be a good read for you: ‘Energy Healing for Empaths: How to Protect Yourself from Energy Vampires, Honor Your Boundaries, and Build Healthier Relationships’.

2. Empaths Are Incredibly Intuitive

Another trait that empaths share, is that they are highly intuitive. Whenever something is off, they listen to their gut. When they neglect what their gut is telling them, they usually end up unhappy. However, when an empath is in tune with his or her intuition, he or she is able to use it as a radar in life. In this way, an empath attracts the right people and manages to avoid toxic relationships and energy vampires.

3. Empaths Attract Energy Vampires

Have you ever hear of the term energy vampires? Energy vampires are people who have the idea that the world revolves around them and their feelings. In fact, they need to be listened to, they need to be cared for, they need to be understood, it is all about them. Most likely, everyone has at some point been in touch with these kind of people and empaths seem to be magnets for energy vampires. Due to their caring, sweet nature, empaths are the perfect energy source for energy vampires. Therefore, it is important for empaths to be aware of this and to protect themselves from energy vampires.

4. Empaths Give Too Much

Empaths are some of the sweetest, kindest people you can meet. Often, they put the needs of others above their own. Accordingly, one of the typical signs that someone is an empath, is that they are people-pleasers and go the extra mile for the people they love. Unfortunately, this isn’t always returned, as not everybody experiences this intense need to care for others and ensure other people’s happiness. Therefore, empaths often give more than they get back. 

5. Empaths Need To Re-charge More Frequently

Because empaths are overwhelmed more easily by other people’s emotions and pain, they need to recharge more frequently. Due to the fact that empaths carry around more than only their own feelings, they use more energy during the day to process all the input. Whereas a less empathic person can go days without feeling the need for self-care, empaths can feel the urge to re-charge their energy after a day of socializing.

If you are looking for effective ways to recharge your energy, this book may be a good place to start your search: ‘Self-Care for Empaths: 100 Activities to Help You Relax, Recharge, and Rebalance Your Life’

6. Empaths Are More Intrigued By Bad News Or Intense Movie Scenes

Empaths have a tendency to react strongly towards intense movie scenes, bad news on the tv or shocking accidents. Because their capability to read other people and their emotions are strongly developed, they experience the above mentioned input as extreme, upsetting and intense. Consequently, it is not rare that an empath starts to cry during such intense situations due to the emotional overload. 

7. Empaths Get Overwhelmed By Crowded Places

Not only highly sensitive people, but also empaths have a tendency to get overwhelmed in crowded places. Even more, they prefer to avoid these places if they can. Due to the fact that they absorb everyone’s emotions and feelings, they receive too much input in these places. In consequence, they get very exhausted in crowds and prefer to withdraw to more quiet places. If you can relate to this, this is one of the typical signs that you may be an empath.

8. Empaths Know When People Lie

As mentioned, empaths are highly intuitive. As a result, they are aware of the tiniest signals and vibes that people send out when they are talking. Therefore, they can identify rather quickly whether someone is lying to them or not. Consequently, this can cause empaths to feel upset at times, because people usually don’t admit that they lied and prefer to make the empath look like a fool/liar. In these situations, it is best for an empath to distance themselves from this type of people. Most likely, they are energy vampires anyway.

9. People Dump Their Problems On Empaths

Empaths experience frequently that somebody walks up to them and tells them their entire life story within 10 minutes. Most likely, this happens because empaths send out a positive vibe and caring energy. People with problems are in need of this energy and sense that they can talk with you about their problems. Consequently, the empath becomes an unpaid shrink on a rather regular basis. It is important for empaths to protect their energy field before leaving their house. In this way, some of the energy vampires might be blocked.

10. Empaths Experience Strong Mood Swings Throughout The Day

One of the common signs that you are an empath, is that you have a tendency to have strong mood swings throughout the day. For example, after a day of interaction with many people, empaths may struggle with feeling all the feels. In this situation it is important for empaths to be aware of which emotions are theirs and which emotions belong to others. For this reason, it is recommended to try to rationalize what you feel multiple times throughout the day, even if it is tough. Therefore, reflect upon what happened to you before changing mood. Most likely, your mood changed after getting in contact with other people. Ask yourself whether these are your emotions or those of others.

11. Empaths Get Energized From Nature

Empaths are truly in touch with nature. Accordingly, they use it as a source to recharge their energy. For example, actitivies such as walking in the forest, going to the beach or sitting in their garden while watching the stars are pure medicine for empaths. Furthermore, it is a wonderful method to empty their minds and get grounded. Consequently, being nature is of high importance for empaths in order to function properly.

12. Empaths Understand People, Even When They Have A Hard Time Expressing Themselves

Sometimes, people try to tell how they feel and where they are coming from, but struggle to word their feelings. Whereas less empathic people may struggle to understand what the person is trying to say, an empath is able to sense what the other person is trying to say. According to Dr. Judith Orloff, this is one of the core traits of being an empath. Consequently, empaths are perfect listeners for people who struggle with expressing their feelings.

13. Empaths Are Natural Healers

It is very common for empaths to pursue a caregiving career. Due to their extremely well-developed capability to emphasize with others, they are perfect teachers, psychologists, nurses, doctors and healers. Moreover, people feel comfortable around empaths and dare to share how they feel, what they experience and open up. For the simple reason that empaths can sense what they feel, they know that empaths are the right people to talk to.

14. Empaths Strongly Dislike Arrogant And Selfish People

For the reason that empaths have the strong urge to help others and at times put other people’s needs above their own, they strongly dislike people who don’t do the same. As a consequence, empaths don’t get along with people who are selfish, egoistic and arrogant. Moreover, people who are showboats and think too highly of themselves compared to others are avoided by empaths. Although empaths are good at emphasizing, they struggle to understand how a person possibly can be and act this way.

15. Empaths Don’t Like A Chaotic Environment

Because empaths experience ‘peopling’ so intensely, they prefer to live in a clean and simple environment. In this way, they come home to a calm space where they can re-charge. Often, empaths love minimalism and try to buy consciously. In fact, this is something that they have in common with highly sensitive people.

16. Empaths Attract Narcissists

Many empaths have been in a toxic relationship with a narcissist. However, this is a dangerous combination; the narcissist gives the empath the idea that they can be helped, and the empath falls for it and tries to heal the narcissist. Because empaths help and give without expecting much in return, they are the perfect prey for narcissists, who are not capable of being that sensitive, compassionate and empathic. 

If you happen to have a narcissist in your life, this book may be interesting for you to discover: ‘Rethinking Narcissism: The Secret to Recognizing and Coping with Narcissists’

17. Negativity Overwhelms Empaths

Unfortunately, empaths often struggle to deal with negativity. Hence, this is one of the typical signs that you are an empath. For many empaths, negativity is lost energy and they prefer to stay in their happy place. Moreover, negativity takes up space in their energy tank. Space which they need to be able to both take care of themselves as well as others. When too much negativity is loaded upon an empath, he or she will feel empty and unable to function properly. In these situations, it is important for empaths to clean their energy. For example, this meditation is useful in order to clear negative energy:

18. Empaths Know Stuff Without Being Told

Because empaths have strong intuition, they have a tendency to know stuff even without being told. Consequently, when an empath is truly in tough with his or her gift, this capability will become stronger. Accordingly, they can use this gift as a radar in life and help others with their advice.

19. Empaths Feel Other People’s Pain

As mentioned, this study stated that there are so-called super empaths, who are able to mirror the touch of others. Accordingly, there are also empaths who feel the pain of others as if it was their own. Consequently, when somebody they care for is in deep pain, they tend to take on that pain. However, this can be tough for empaths, who wish that they could take away the other person’s pain, but are unable to do so.

20. Empaths Feel A Strong Need To Be Alone

Although empaths love people and care for them deeply, they feel a strong urge to be alone rather often. However, this has nothing to do with the people around them, but with their need to recharge their energy tank. As a result, empaths are interested in various self-care methods that they can do on their own, preferably in touch with nature and the spiritual world. If you feel a strong urge to be alone sometimes to recharge, this may be one of the common signs that you are an empath.

Identifying With These Signs That You Are An Empath?

After reading this article, you may be more aware of your empathy. We are curious to hear what signs you recognize the most in yourself. Feel free to share it in the comments!

You May Also Enjoy Reading These Articles

• 60 Signs That You Are A Highly Sensitive Person
• How To Deal With A Narcissist When You Are A Sensitive Soul
• Is A Highly Sensitive Person The Same As An Empath?

The post 20 Signs That Indicate That You’re An Empath appeared first on HiSensitives.