How to change the world as a Highly Sensitive Person
Karin Goldgruber
How to change the world as an HSP
This sentence probably brings up different feelings for you as an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person).
The hope that you could create change in a world that might feel too loud, too overstimulating and too uncaring for HSPs.
The frustration that you haven’t been able to implement the changes you hoped for when you were younger.
The disillusionment with human kind and the state of the world at the moment.
The powerlessness after failed attempts to make changes.
All these feelings are very valid. A strength of HSP is to see potential problems that could or will happen. They are often shocked that most people don’t see the urgency, assuming that these problems will never arise.
The assumption that everyone is as committed and passionate as they are about solving problems can lead to frustration and disappointment.
Therefore they don’t see clear signs that people are not ready or even willing to do the work required . They keep encouraging, reminding, pushing and expecting the changes that the HSP wants the other person to make.
Changing others doesn’t work yet we often think this is the way to change the world and our surroundings.
Luckily, most HSPs are open to do the work to create inner change for themselves, after realizing that we can’t change others.
So, how can we create change in the world?
In my experience it is about finding a balance between the things that are really important to us and the change we want to make.
For example, I know about the environmental impacts of flights, yet I am committed to helping take care of my mom who lives in Austria. My solution is a commitment to plant a tree for every flight I take. I have done so for the last three years. Some are in my backyard, some are in my nieces’ gardens as I am running out of space. At the beginning I was so excited about this idea that I mentioned it to many people, hoping to inspire them. Only to feel disappointed when I realized they were not as excited as I am.
Reducing plastic is another topic that I am very passionate about. Several years ago I started to replace plastic items with biodegradable alternatives. I started to replace hair shampoo and shower gels with soap. I found Canadian companies that sell toothpaste and make up in glass or metal containers. Step by step I made small changes. Automatically I assumed that my family, friends and coworkers would be as passionate and committed as I am.
I felt betrayed when they kept using the products they liked even though they were in plastic containers. At first I tried to gift (manipulate) them with the products I enjoyed.
When they tried and for whatever reasons didn’t use my gifts I chose to feel hurt and unsupported.
It took me quite a while to realize that I can’t and don’t want to (well maybe sometimes) force others to care about things I care about.
Over the course of more than 20 years I have created a pesticide free native plant garden. Growing up beside my grandparents farm I always loved the dandelion meadows in the spring and the meadows full of wild flowers, edible plants and herbs. I can’t understand the allure of the perfect manicured dead lawns our neighbors in Canada have. Despite the love I have for my natural garden I felt uncomfortable with my neighbors obvious disagreement over my gardening choices.
Knowing that my little backyard is a healthy environment for varieties of bees, insects, birds and other animals makes the discomfort worth it.
When I see a deer resting in the shade of trees we planted, my heart overflows with love and gratitude.
One of the trees we planted very early was a maple tree in memory of my grandmother. Last year this maple tree produced thousands of samaras, also called helicopter seeds or whirlybirds.
This maple helped me to realise that a small action like planting a tree can create big changes in the world without having to push or force change. The wind blew most of the samaras away.
I have no clue how many will grow into mature maples. However, even if just three would mature and produce seeds, the wind will also distribute their seeds all over. I can’t stop those trees from multiplying.
Do we really need to know and take credit for change we have inspired, encouraged or modeled? I feel part of a bigger picture when I think of my maple tree and hopefully it’s many descendants that will grow and flourish long after I am gone. It makes me feel peaceful, happy and powerful to create big, long-lasting changes through making small changes.
What are things that you are passionate about and that have a positive effect on your life? I believe that they will encourage you to create change in your world.
How to change the world as an HSP
This sentence probably brings up different feelings for you as an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person).
The hope that you could create change in a world that might feel too loud, too overstimulating and too uncaring for HSPs.
The frustration that you haven’t been able to implement the changes you hoped for when you were younger.
The disillusionment with human kind and the state of the world at the moment.
The powerlessness after failed attempts to make changes.
All these feelings are very valid. A strength of HSP is to see potential problems that could or will happen. They are often shocked that most people don’t see the urgency, assuming that these problems will never arise.
The assumption that everyone is as committed and passionate as they are about solving problems can lead to frustration and disappointment.
Therefore they don’t see clear signs that people are not ready or even willing to do the work required . They keep encouraging, reminding, pushing and expecting the changes that the HSP wants the other person to make.
Changing others doesn’t work yet we often think this is the way to change the world and our surroundings.
Luckily, most HSPs are open to do the work to create inner change for themselves, after realizing that we can’t change others.
So, how can we create change in the world?
In my experience it is about finding a balance between the things that are really important to us and the change we want to make.
For example, I know about the environmental impacts of flights, yet I am committed to helping take care of my mom who lives in Austria. My solution is a commitment to plant a tree for every flight I take. I have done so for the last three years. Some are in my backyard, some are in my nieces’ gardens as I am running out of space. At the beginning I was so excited about this idea that I mentioned it to many people, hoping to inspire them. Only to feel disappointed when I realized they were not as excited as I am.
Reducing plastic is another topic that I am very passionate about. Several years ago I started to replace plastic items with biodegradable alternatives. I started to replace hair shampoo and shower gels with soap. I found Canadian companies that sell toothpaste and make up in glass or metal containers. Step by step I made small changes. Automatically I assumed that my family, friends and coworkers would be as passionate and committed as I am.
I felt betrayed when they kept using the products they liked even though they were in plastic containers. At first I tried to gift (manipulate) them with the products I enjoyed.
When they tried and for whatever reasons didn’t use my gifts I chose to feel hurt and unsupported.
It took me quite a while to realize that I can’t and don’t want to (well maybe sometimes) force others to care about things I care about.
Over the course of more than 20 years I have created a pesticide free native plant garden. Growing up beside my grandparents farm I always loved the dandelion meadows in the spring and the meadows full of wild flowers, edible plants and herbs. I can’t understand the allure of the perfect manicured dead lawns our neighbors in Canada have. Despite the love I have for my natural garden I felt uncomfortable with my neighbors obvious disagreement over my gardening choices.
Knowing that my little backyard is a healthy environment for varieties of bees, insects, birds and other animals makes the discomfort worth it.
When I see a deer resting in the shade of trees we planted, my heart overflows with love and gratitude.
One of the trees we planted very early was a maple tree in memory of my grandmother. Last year this maple tree produced thousands of samaras, also called helicopter seeds or whirlybirds.
This maple helped me to realise that a small action like planting a tree can create big changes in the world without having to push or force change. The wind blew most of the samaras away.
I have no clue how many will grow into mature maples. However, even if just three would mature and produce seeds, the wind will also distribute their seeds all over. I can’t stop those trees from multiplying.
Do we really need to know and take credit for change we have inspired, encouraged or modeled? I feel part of a bigger picture when I think of my maple tree and hopefully it’s many descendants that will grow and flourish long after I am gone. It makes me feel peaceful, happy and powerful to create big, long-lasting changes through making small changes.
What are things that you are passionate about and that have a positive effect on your life? I believe that they will encourage you to create change in your world.
About the Author
Karin is a proud mother of two, a business owner, an immigrant, an avid hiker, a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), and many other things. Growing up in Austria, she always felt she was different from others around her, but never quite knew why. It was only in her 40’s that Karin discovered the term HSP, what it meant, and how it applied to her. Gaining this new perspective has helped Karin to better understand herself and how others see her. Soon after learning about HSP’s, Karin learned about Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), which she has found is very helpful in addressing negative beliefs about herself and her past experiences. With her blogs and her business, Next Step Coaching, Karin seeks to help others learn more about HSPs, themselves, their beliefs about themselves, and to achieve the growth that she herself was able to realize by applying EFT. When writing her Blogs and working with clients, Karin does not seek to provide the answers, but rather to help her readers and clients find their own personal solutions for their unique circumstances.
Karin is a proud mother of two, a business owner, an immigrant, an avid hiker, a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), and many other things….
Growing up in Austria Karin is a proud mother of two, a business owner, an immigrant, an avid hiker, a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), and many other things. Growing up in Austria, she always felt she was different from others around her, but never quite knew why. It was only in her 40’s that Karin discovered the term HSP, what it meant, and how it applied to her. Gaining this new perspective has helped Karin to better understand herself and how others see her. Soon after learning about HSP’s, Karin learned about Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), which she has found is very helpful in addressing negative beliefs about herself and her past experiences. With her blogs and her business, Next Step Coaching, Karin seeks to help others learn more about HSPs, themselves, their beliefs about themselves, and to achieve the growth that she herself was able to realize by applying EFT. When writing her Blogs and working with clients, Karin does not seek to provide the answers, but rather to help her readers and clients find their own personal solutions for their unique circumstances.
