High sensitivity offers high work value when we embrace our giftedness.
Dr. Elaine Aron, author of “The Highly-Sentive Person,” contributes extensive research to this newly-understood trait. In the book, she shares many ways sensitive people can excel at work, especially when we practice valuing our trait.
Highly sensitive people (HSP) are typically highly intuitive, conscientious, thoughtful, thorough, imaginative, and creative. Assets like curiosity, independence, and high energy can make work feel like play.
“There are many ways being an HSP can be an asset in your work. It takes considerable work before HSPs can undo past negative ideas about their trait and truly value it. You cannot convince anyone else of its value if you’re not convinced yourself,” writes Aron.
We need to find organizations that align with our values. As I explore new teams to work with, I feel inspired to embrace more HSP-positive approaches.
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Asset Discovery Exercises
I really enjoyed Aron’s high sensitivity (HS) reframing exercise. As someone who burned out at a corporate tech job, seeing how my HS helps myself and others feels healing.
First, start a list of every possible asset an HSP could bring to work. Like any brainstorming exercise, accept each idea without criticism.
“Don’t worry if non-HSPs have some of the same assets; it’s enough if we have them more or also. Use every strategy: logical deduction from the basic trait, thinking about your growing knowledge of the typical HSP, considering the HSPs you know and admire, thinking about yourself, and looking through this book,” writes Aron.
Aron says the list should be long, and it’s very long when HSPs do the exercise as a group. Keep exploring until your list is substantial.
“Now, do two things: write a little speech you might use during an interview and also a more formal letter. In both of them, express some of your assets, embedding your trait of sensitivity among them in a way that quietly educates your employer,” shares Aron.
You could explore characteristics from well-known HSPs, like Eleanor Roosevelt, Carl Jung, Albert Einstein, Nicole Kidman, Glenn Close, Emily Dickinson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Maya Angelou, Steve Martin, Barbra Streisand, and Scarlett Johansson.
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Ways HSPs Can Thrive at Work
Aron dives into a few nuances of being an HSP at work that felt helpful, like making sure your trait is valued, giving yourself time for training, and navigating your workload. Many of her tips for managing over-stimulation are also helpful at work.
“It’s your duty to work less time and hone your giftedness. Keeping yourself healthy and in the right range of arousal is the first condition for helping others,” writes Aron.
Even if we enjoy work, we still need balance, like having time for recreation and deeper relationships outside work.
Given our heightened curiosity, indulging in new ideas and discoveries often feels nourishing.
Since training situations often feel overstimulating, give yourself enough time to learn in your own way. For example, try practicing new skills solo or taking work materials home.
For over-stimulation, I found the part about distinguishing fear from arousal supportive. You can bring objectivity into situations, assess factors that impact your sensitivity, and take steps to support yourself. I’ve noticed I can make several simple adjustments when settling into a new space to relax.
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Throughout the book, Aron describes HSPs as tending towards the “royal advisor” class. We are typically more studious and intuitive, differing from “warrior king” types, who tend to be impulsive and tough. She emphasizes the importance of balancing these two roles for the survival of social organizations.
“The times need us. An imbalance between the royal-advisor and warrior-king aspects of society is always dangerous, but especially when science negates intuition and the ‘big questions’ are being settled without thoughtfulness, but according to what’s convenient at the moment. Your contributions are needed in this area more than any other,” shares Aron.
Dive deeper into this topic with Aron’s book or explore my recent HSP-focused writing:
- “High Sensitivity Is Becoming My New Superpower”
- “How Yoga Supports Highly Sensitive People”
- “Why Highly-Sensitive People Embrace Spirituality”
Photo Credit: Unsplash, Nick Morrison
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I publish inspiring, empowering content on self-actualization topics once a week. I include insights from personal experience, research, expert advice, and others’ stories. I use my professional journalism and research background to keep posts concise, empathic, and trustworthy.
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