The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast with Julie Bjelland , LMFT

We often hear how important it is that we believe in ourselves, yet what if we are struggling to make something happen? It is all too easy to slip into self-doubt and a spiral of negative beliefs. One of the greatest resources we have as HSPs is our commitment to our growth and development. Also, our tenacity to pursue our personal evolution and what is most important to us in the world. When it comes to believing and trusting ourselves there are some very useful tools and techniques we can use that help us to access this in any and all circumstances. For instance, when we allow ourselves to look back over our lives we will see that have evolved and we have grown through many challenges. There is a great deal of evidence of us finding a way and being successful. Even if those examples may not be to the degree we wanted, the evidence is there nonetheless. In this episode, we take a look at why it is important not to be over-critical when we are in transition or doing our best to achieve something important. Instead by recognizing the deeper truth of our ability we can access and develop a reliable source of trust and belief in ourselves. Read Willow's Blog Post: How to Reveal Your Innate Expertise as an HSP Join the Sensitive Empowerment Community Find an HSP Therapist, Healer, Coach on our HSP Practitioners Directory

William writes...“On many occasions, Dr. Elaine Aron has written that Highly Sensitive People were designed by nature to perform an evolutionary function. We are the wise counselors, the cautious advisors, and the thoughtful and empathetic souls who aid the human race. We are at an important juncture in human history. A form of exploitative and dominance-focused masculinity has been running the planet for millennia. The consequences of this form of masculinity are evidenced in the planet's current state. We as a planet are in a state of imbalance, as we allow this form of distorted masculinity to jeopardize our future. After getting a degree in Psychology with an eye on doing psychology research, he recalibrated for a career in Information Technology. He found himself in a thirty-year career as an Information Technology manager at Wells Fargo who enjoyed managing highly intelligent, often difficult staff, many of whom were highly sensitive. As we know it in the West, masculinity is not always inclusive, emotionally expressive, empathetic, intuitive, or nurturing – all qualities that HSPs come by naturally. As a result, HSP men have often been left out of this exclusive club, as have many others identifying as male. This must change not only for men's sake but also for the planet. It is important to understand that masculinity is by and large a cultural construct and is learned. We can reshape the construct to be less toxic for men, allowing men to become fully human in their ability to be authentic, loving, strong, empathetic, and constructive. Being a male is not the issue. It is about the cloak of masculinity that many men wear, which is hurtful and dangerous. I believe that HSP men and members of the LGBTQ+ community can serve as role models for this new form of masculinity. These two communities share a common goal of recognition and inclusion.” William Allen is an author with a writer’s heart and researcher’s mind. After getting a degree in Psychology with an eye on doing psychology research, he recalibrated for a career in Information Technology. He found himself in a thirty-year career as an Information Technology manager at Wells Fargo who enjoyed managing highly intelligent, often difficult staff, many of whom were highly sensitive. He retired early from his corporate job to start his Hypno-coaching and neurofeedback brain training business, BrainPilots, in Bend, Oregon. In late 2016, he began his blog, The Sensitive Man, about his experiences, as a highly sensitive man. The blog became the genesis of his first book, Confessions of a Sensitive Man. His new book, On Being a Sensitive Man, is the follow-up book, which focuses on how to live in the world as a sensitive man. He feels that HSP males need to take their keen insights and intuition and make them public. He would like to shed more light on highly sensitive males and the much-needed role they need to take in our society. www.thesensitiveman.com Explore more episodes on The HSP Podcast at HSPpodcast.com 

Do you know how special you are as a sensitive person? You are valuable and wonderful, just as you are.  

As HSPs we can often feel like we are in constant battle with ourselves internally. Almost like interference with our own energy and well-being. Whilst this sounds counterintuitive to our own happiness we can often be unaware of how much we are doing it. The cause of this is often as a result of feeling we needed to hide our true feelings as children in order to protect ourselves. The trouble is as adults this no longer serves us and can have a great cost to our health, well-being, and personal success. Some of the signs to look out for are inner tension and a habit of constantly second-guessing what we feel, think and do. The good news is, this habit can be reversed once we take the first step of becoming aware of it. Then we can gradually move towards the promotion of a calm and loving inner experience as we learn to be ourselves again as adults. Join us this week as we look out for the warning signs and the ways in which to bring balance and healing to this most meaningful endeavor. Explore all episodes and connect to us at HSPpodcast.com  Register for my free Masterclasses for HSPs at HSPmasterclass.com

This interview is part of the Empaths, Sensitives & Intuitives Summit a free online event. For more information, and to register free, click here. This recording is a copyright of The Shift Network. All rights reserved. The modern world is often overwhelming and stressful for those with sensitive nervous systems. You often suffer from the challenges of sensory overload, impacting your mental health, and also your physical health. Fortunately, there are simple tools that Julie Bjelland, LMFT, will share that have helped thousands of highly sensitive people (HSPs) move from surviving into thriving, allowing you to live life to your fullest potential — because the world needs you. In this session, you'll discover: The modern world often causes sensory overload for sensitive people Solutions to the challenges of high sensitivity, including fierce self-care to stay balanced and healthy Sensitive people are needed to change the world

I invite you on my camping trip to meditate with me in the woods, with a campfire, next to a creek.  You'll hear different sounds of nature and the outdoors. I hope it helps you feel relaxed and at peace, the same way I did in nature. 

Guilt and shame tend to be a big problem for HSPs. For the purposes of this episode, we are going to discuss this in relation to the trait of high sensitivity. Guilt Culprits: We often try to please people. We don’t want to experience their disappointment. We try to do the right thing. We might feel guilty for setting boundaries, taking alone time, or needing to do things differently. Shame culprits: Most of us have been told our whole lives that something is wrong with us for being “too sensitive” so we often walk around with shame about who we are. Guilt and shame are exhausting and drain our energy. If we take alone time to restore but we feel guilty when we do it then we don’t restore. It even zaps us of our energy! If we feel shame about who we are we have a hard time putting ourselves out into the world and deeply connecting to who we really are and finding our life purpose. Ways to intentionally let go of guilt and shame 1. Acknowledge, normalize and validate your experiences 2. Learn about your positive gifts within this trait of high sensitivity. 3. Practice self-compassion for the hard feelings as it helps us feel more resilient too 4. Set boundaries. Redirect to internal focus. Remind yourself why you had to set that boundary or say no and remember your inner child’s needs. 5. Know that when we give up our needs we don’t thrive and that’s not good for anyone. Your needs are not less important than other people's needs. 6. Shift your mindset. It’s not possible to “please” anyone. That’s not our job, that’s their job. 7. Surround yourself with people who support you and limit or let go of those that don’t. Know that this community supports you! ❤️ 8. Be intentional and give time to consciously shift 9. Seek out support from an HSP Psychotherapist who can be a great source of support to guide us through the deep parts. Check out the HSP Practitioners Directory! 10. Keep practicing! The more you practice the easier it is to release the guilt and shame.  Explore Julie's courses to help HSPs be at their highest level of wellness at HSPcourses.com Explore all our episodes and links to our websites and resources at HSPpodcast.com

From Martina: "ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OF BEING AN HSP IS FINDING IT HARD TO IDENTIFY AND LISTEN TO YOUR INNER GPS SYSTEM, YOUR INTUITIVE GUIDANCE. THESE MESSAGES ARE OVERSHADOWED BY YOUR NATURAL EMPATHY AND ABILITY TO FEEL WHAT SOMEONE ELSE FEELS. ADDITIONALLY, SOCIETY GIVINGS YOU FALSE MESSAGES, TELLING YOU HOW YOU "SHOULD" BE. IN ORDER TO TRULY UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE TO STAND IN YOUR STRENGTHS, YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP THE COURAGE TO TRUST YOURSELF." Martina is an experienced licensed psychotherapist, coach and master intuitive for high-achievers who are introverts and/or HSP’s. She has over 30 years of experience in helping others transform their lives by learning to listen to their inner guidance, embrace their gifts and get comfortable with being seen. She helps clients achieve Reliable Personal Power in every area of their lives. www.thebraveintrovert.com Join the Sensitive Empowerment Community and explore more resources for the sensitive at JulieBjelland.com 

Blockages in our energy systems can make it challenging to achieve a sense of calm. Learn how to clear and recharge your chakras to feel calm and clear and increase your flow. Tammy is a holistic life coach and energy healer helping Highly Sensitives be themselves, be understood and be at peace. She helps clients develop full toolboxes of techniques for minimizing overwhelm, and shifting mindset and letting go of emotional and energetic blocks to live a full, joyful life. When she's not helping clients she's usually out connecting with the trees, rivers and mountains. linktr.ee/tammygoen Get more info at HSPpodcast.com

As a percentage of the population nature has given us an ability to process sensory information more deeply. Our amazing trait is intended. Just as the role we are here to play in the world is intended. For many of us as HSPs, we have had to work out our place for ourselves. Learning how to find self-love and acceptance without guidance. Yet for many of us we are aware that beneath the challenges we often face, there is something we are good at. Something aligned with an area of life that fascinates us. So many of us as HSPs assume that everyone has these abilities. Yet nature has given us an ability to process more information for a reason. The truth is that not everyone can interpret the world in the way we can. Not everyone can feel as deeply as we can and not everyone has that secret little awareness that surprises us time and time again. When we assume that everyone can do what we do, we devalue this gift we have been given. Which in turn means we are devaluing ourselves and the responsibility we have to own the role that was intended for us. Join us this week as we consider the importance of exploring and developing what might seem normal to us, yet in fact, could well be abilities that are here to create a powerful impact on the world... Learn more about Julie and Willow and explore more episodes at HSPpodcast.com Explore the Nature Book here mentioned in this episode of photos from around the world, as seen through the eyes of HSPs.