highly sensitive introvert

A lot of people think that those of us who are quiet and highly sensitive are weak. They believe that quiet + courageous is a contradiction. Now more than ever, I whole-heartedly disagree.

No matter what your political views, you can’t deny that the recent US election has created a sense of division and brokenness. After reading posts from some of my favorite bloggers, I noticed a pattern in the comments. The phrase “I feel so helpless” came up a lot. But there is another, more hopeful trend, especially among my introverted and highly sensitive friends and colleagues.

Highly sensitive does not mean helpless

Many highly sensitive introverts are choosing not to run and hide post-election. We are not giving into the sense of helplessness. Instead, we are asking “What can we do? And how can we heal?” True to our conflict-averse nature, many highly sensitive introverts are ardently searching for ways to mend and unite. We want to gently break down the walls of division, rather than build them up.

I see introverted leaders like Susan Cain, author of Quiet and creator of QuietRev.com, sharing Facebook posts like this one:

Cain speaks her truth in a way that is clear, but never unkind. The overall theme of her message is, “What can we do? And how can we heal ?”

I see my friend, publicity and business coach Selena Soo (who is a proud introvert and INFJ) making a stand for unity and compassion. Selena reached out to her community by email to address the “hate and mean-spirited language” fuelled by the US election.

She reminded her peeps that real change blossoms from curiosity, compassion, understanding, and self-awareness. She asked with sincerity what she could do to make a difference. In short, she was another quiet, but courageous voice asking, “What can we do? And how can we heal?”

I also see my good friend, highly sensitive energy healer and ‘animal whisperer’ Alexa Linton, expressing a curious sensation that many of us are experiencing right now. In a recent email, she observed:

“[D]uring this potent time many of us are being asked to step up and show up more fully when it comes to what is really important to us.”

Yes, yes, yes! I exclaimed (silently, of course) after reading her words. Those of us who are sensitive enough to hear the whispers of our own soul feel an intense desire to live in greater alignment with our values right now. We know that real transformation – even on a global scale – begins within.

Could kittens be the answer?

Oh yes, and I can’t forget to mention one more sensitive, anxiety-ridden, and adorably strange lady who is using her voice to unite, rather than divide. Jenny Lawson (a.k.a The Bloggess), author of Furiously Happy, is bringing people together through the indomitable power of laughter and kittens. I love that so much.

(I realize I didn’t mention any men here and that is probably because I happen to follow and befriend a lot of fellow female HSPs. If you know any sensitive and/or introverted men who are speaking up for unity, please do share in the comments.)

The answer might be different than you think

This sense of brokenness surrounding the US election has awakened a fire within me. The last time I felt this way was right before I started Introvert Spring. The reason for my inner flames at that time was not what you might think.

Right before I created this website in early 2013, I was deeply moved by the conflicts in Syria. The emotions I felt related to the horrors in Syria sparked a desire to understand what was going on in the Middle East. I researched the history of conflicts in the Middle East, including those surrounding “The Arab Spring”. And of course, it led me to ask the question, “What can I do? And how can I help heal what is broken.”

Interestingly, the answer did not come in the way I expected. After much soul searching, I realized that my gifts are best used to heal and unite introverts. I imagined an “Introvert Spring” reaching hundreds of thousands of introverts around the world. With the help of countless quiet voices, I’ve seen the introvert revolution change the lives of millions of innies from all over the globe.

What now?

So, today, if you are amongst the many quiet voices asking, “What can we do? And how can we heal?”, I hope you’ll remember that there are many ways to make a difference in the world. You don’t have to do something big, or complicated. As Mahatma Gandhi said:

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

In the spirit of small, but sincere contributions, I have created a Peace, Unity & Kittens mug. All of my profits from the sale of this mug will go to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). If you like it, I invite you to buy it here. Or go to this page to spread the word.

 

The moral of this story is that sensitive souls are rising up to help heal and unite the world …

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One kitten at a time. ?

Over to you

Do you feel a stirring within you? What is your answer to the question, “What can I do. And how can I heal?” Please share your thoughts below.

Peace & Love,

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