Many of us have a superpower we aren’t even aware we have. We are highly sensitive people. Not everyone can claim this unique gift. Those that don’t usually wonder why we are like we are – like something is wrong with us. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Has someone ever called you “sensitive,” and it felt like an insult? If you are a highly sensitive person (HSP), this has probably happened to you. However, being highly sensitive gives you many skills that will set you apart in life and become your superpowers. This is use a sampling of a few of the amazing skills highly sensitive people have. There are many, many more. For those of you who are not highly sensitive, consider these points as a way to better understand the highly sensitive people in your life.
You Can be Alone 
As a highly sensitive person, you enjoy spending time by yourself. This means you do not spend time and money chasing individuals and things for means of distraction. In doing this, you save your resources, energy, and happiness for the things and people that really matter.
It’s okay to be alone, just not all of the time. As a highly sensitive person it can be easy to become a hermit. We still need to get out and be around people, just not all the time. Find a balance of alone time and people time for your life. You will be more at peace when you do.
You Take Your Time
Taking your time in all things is important. It allows you to pace yourself, measure how far you have come, and reevaluate as necessary. Too many people jump in with both feet and give it their all, only to find out the finish line is another ten miles away. You are not that person. You reach the finish line at exactly the right time, with exactly the right outcome.
Many people judge your abilities on how long it takes. I respond to people by reminding them of the story about the tortoise and the hare. I tell them I am a tortoise – slow and steady wins the race. It may be frustrating to those around you, but once they begin to see your results, they will become more understanding.
You Take it All In
As someone who is aware of those around you, you can gauge others’ emotions and temperaments without judgment – you have no need to react negatively. Instead, you remain calm and levelheaded, able to help as appropriate.
The world really needs this part of your superpower. Your calmness helps others to be calm as well. In this time in our history, everyone seems to be in a tizzy. The media wants us to live in a state of agitation. Your calmness helps to counteract the drama being fabricated in our society.
You See the Truth
Being a judge of true character is a skill that many never learn. It includes taking in every aspect of a person: the words they speak, their body language, and their aura. Many people are not in tune enough with themselves to notice the cues, let alone listen to their own response to the person. As a highly sensitive person, you are more equipped to see people for who they really are, with an open mind.
You tend to be a no judgment type person, so you can see the character, and make the right decisions base on what you know inside, rather than what is being outwardly portrayed.
You’re Not a Multitasker 
Multitasking, as recent studies have shown, is not all that great. In fact, the research shows multitasking overstimulates the body and decreases productivity across the board. Psychology Today has an excellent article, “10 Real Risks of Multitasking, to Mind and Body” that talks more about why multitasking is not a good idea.
As someone who is acutely aware of your energy output, you have most likely already realized that you cannot and should not multitask. You make no apologies for it, it is just the way you do things.
Your Imagination
Being someone that is used to seeking refuge from the over stimulation in the world, you have most likely come to rely on your own imagination in your times of solitude. Your imagination is one of your strongest tools. It can be used for problem-solving in everyday situations.
Your imagination encourages you to be more creative, more artistic, and more open to new things. Harness that creative energy. Allow yourself to enjoy making music, creating art, writing whatever is in your heart or on your mind. You have the superpower – use it.
You’re Considerate
As a highly sensitive person, unconditional love and acceptance is very important to you. You tune in to how others feel because you are able to tune in to yourself. Being aware of your own emotions, you are more considerate of the emotions and stressors of others. This consideration gives you the ability to make others more comfortable.
This same consideration, when not held inside, can also influence those around you to be more considerate. When everyone else is complaining or talking negatively about a situation or a person, you can turn the conversation around by bringing the positive side to light. Showing that unconditional love and acceptance around others empowers them to practice the same.
You Can Read Between the Lines 
Reading between the lines is another skill that does not come easily to many. As a highly sensitive person you can read the emotions of a room and understand what someone means based on more than the words they are saying. You can feel and know what is going on based on the energy around you. You can help facilitate the conversation, so that people understand what it is that is trying to be communicated. You can help keep any potential misunderstandings peaceful because your positive energy will radiate peace into the room.
The next time someone calls you too sensitive, tell them “thank you,” because you know that your sensitivity is really your superpower.
Find your purpose – find your joy!
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Some years ago I was suffering from anxiety attacks . I was given medication which I didn’t want to take. Someone introduced me to meditation and I also underwent mindfulness training. The results you are describing here resembles the results I got with years of training. I am glad I read this, because I never thought of it as becoming sensitive but looking back I realize I have become a different much calmer, more aware kind of person. The important thing in all of this is that I have to be consistent with my exercises. Thank you for the insights.
Hi JJ – thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds like you have made some great changes in your life.
This is a very thoughtful and helpful article. I have a few of these highly sensitive people in my life and reading this has definitely given me some insight. It is great to see all of these behaviors as superpowers and as a special gift that should be treasured and celebrated. I agree that being sensitive is a fantastic quality to have!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Since I found out a few years ago that I am an HSP, my life has become a lot easier. We are among 16% of the world population where some part of the brain functions a little bit differently. This goes for all senses, not only mental issues. I possess very good taste, thus when I am cooking, people like it very much. I just hate very bitter dishes.
You are so right in that people around you, even friends and family, do not recognize these traits any further than “you are so sensitive”. It left me with a sense of guilt for the best part of my life. Moreover, people do not go very far to really get to know or understand others. I do, maybe unwittingly, as I am also an INFJ type of person.
I wish that many people will read this article, as it is important to know for both HSP’s and non-HSPs.
Hi Jerry – thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Thanks for sharing this article Sue. I’m a really empathetic person, so I fall under a lot of these categories. I believe a Highly Sensitive Person would be the same as an Empath, as they share lots of the same traits. I know lots of people want to claim that Empaths don’t actually exist, and everything is just a trauma response. While these things coming out may have been a result of trauma, I still don’t think that totally discredits the existence of people who just feel things and exist at a higher frequency than everyone else.
Hi Rachel – thank you for your comments. I totally agree.
Thank you so much for this awesome post about being highly sensitive. I know a little about this because it is something I have had to deal with personally, and I studied psychology when I was in College and I learned that a lot of that is caused by traumatic childhoods. Highly sensitive people need reassurance as well, and this article helps people like me realize that it is okay to be highly sensitive. Thank you!
Hi Jessie – thank you for sharing your thoughts. I’m glad you found this helpful. It is absolutely okay for you to be highly sensitive – remember it’s a superpower!