Navigating Sensitivity: Can I Decrease My High Sensitivity and How Do My Hobbies Help?
Understanding and working with high sensitivity as a highly sensitive person (HSP) is a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. The common misconception is that reducing sensitivity equates to greater control. However, the journey to improved control involves embracing and enhancing sensitivity, similar to steering into a skid to regain car control. Let’s explore how understanding and nurturing your inner world can indeed lead to greater control over your emotions and reactions.
Understanding Sensitivity in Highly Sensitive People
High sensitivity is a trait found in about 15-20% of the population, characterized by an intense sensory, emotional, and attitudinal response to the world around them. While being highly sensitive might seem overwhelming, it is not a negative trait but rather a different way of perceiving and experiencing life. This heightened awareness can lead to both advantages and challenges. For HSPs, the key is to channel this sensitivity in a positive and controlled manner.
Why Becoming Less Sensitive Doesn't Help
Many assume that reducing their sensitivity would result in better control, but this approach can be counterproductive. Just as steering into a skid helps regain control, HSPs need to become more attuned and aware of their internal states to navigate, rather than suppress, their feelings. By ignoring or minimizing sensitivity, you are essentially closing off a valuable source of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
The Role of Awareness in Sensitivity Control
The path to control begins with increased awareness and self-observation. By becoming more sensitive to your inner world, you can begin to recognize and understand the root causes of your reactions. This awareness empowers you to make conscious choices in how you respond to external stimuli. Practicing mindfulness and journaling can be particularly helpful in this process. Through consistent practice, you can develop the ability to identify and regulate your emotions, leading to a more stable and controllable inner state.
How Hobbies Contribute to Managing Sensitivity
Hobbies play a crucial role in the journey of a highly sensitive person. Engaging in activities that you find enjoyable and meaningful can serve as a powerful tool for emotional regulation. Here are a few ways your hobbies can contribute to managing your sensitivity:
1. Creating a Sense of Control and Mastery
Engaging in hobbies allows you to feel a sense of control in an otherwise unpredictable world. By mastering a skill or honing your craft, you gain a sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy. This control can be transferable to other areas of life, where you can choose how to react to and engage with various situations.
2. Providing a Focus and Diversion
Highly sensitive individuals often feel overwhelmed by the world around them. Engaging in hobbies provides a focus and a temporary distraction from external stimuli. This can help reduce sensory overload and allow you to manage your sensitivity more effectively. Activities that involve deep concentration, such as reading, painting, or playing a musical instrument, can immerse you in the present moment and offer a sense of peace.
3. Offering a Form of Self-expression
Hobbies often serve as a form of self-expression, allowing you to communicate and process your emotions in a creative and non-verbal way. Whether you are writing poetry, crafting, or engaging in other creative pursuits, these activities can help you articulate and release your emotions, leading to a greater sense of balance and control.
Conclusion
While it is possible to decrease your overall level of sensitivity, doing so is not the best approach for achieving greater control. Instead, focus on developing heightened awareness and emotional intelligence. By embracing and nurturing your sensitive nature, you can navigate through life’s challenges with greater poise and resilience. Incorporating a variety of hobbies into your life can further enhance your ability to manage and control your sensitivity, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced existence.