The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast with Julie Bjelland

Discussing honoring sensitivity, LGBTQ equality, equal rights, educating ourselves about how to heal systemic racism and how we can support black, indigenous people of color  (BIPOC) So important for us to be ourselves in the world and not only accept differences but to embrace differences Let’s start celebrating the beauty of all of our differences.  Why would we want to be the same? It is in the differences that make us valuable and beautiful in the world. I share my own story of hiding who I was as I tried to be in the role of being "perfect" and lost who I was and how both my personal life and my business thrived when I stepped into my own authenticity.   Lots of work to be done for equality: we still have to consider safety and acceptance as a consideration for where we live. Our ancestors who lived in tribes honored the sensitive in the group because of our natural gifts. We were the highly valued and respected healers, guides, and leaders of the tribe because of our unique gifts. This high sensitivity trait evolved for the particular survival of the population because of our unique gifts and their importance to the world. Somewhere along the way, society got too busy and started giving us messages that who we are and how we experience the world is different and wrong in some way. I say it’s time to change that message back into a place of honoring who we are and embracing diversity in general. Why is there such a push to have everyone be the same? Differences are needed and beautiful and valuable.  With differences comes important perspective, creativity, details, and information!  It’s time to embrace and honor differences! Let’s be the change the world needs and cherish authenticity and a loving acceptance of everyone.  Let’s honor the sensitive. Let’s embrace the fluidity and spectrum of sexuality and gender.  Let’s cherish Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.  I truly believe it is HSPs that care so deeply for others that can be part of the change. Let’s open to, embrace, honor, and celebrate the superpowers of the sensitive and the beauty of diversity. Explore bios and more episodes at www.HSPpodcast.com 

HSPs typically fall into two categories when we fall out of sync with ourselves. We become either the ‘pusher’ or the ‘hider’. These two shadow sides of our character cause us to either force ourselves to try to get what we need or we go the other way and hide altogether. Neither are effective strategies to function and are a clear indicator we are out of the flow and out of sync with ourselves. Living in this way can lead to burn out, stress, and depression. Join us this week as we discuss the importance of recognizing we achieve in different ways to the 80% born without the trait. Learning to trust our feelings and intuition and be in sync with the natural flow of things can be life-changing in terms of up-leveling our self-care and learning to live in ease and alignment. Explore episodes, ask us questions, make comments, read show notes, explore our HSP resources, leave a review and share episodes to help other HSPs at HSPpodcast.com Sending love and light to you. 

Sinead shares: “Discussing my own path as an HSP and how I navigated it. I want to talk about how Tarot and archetypal work helped me understand myself and help me with my sensitivities. I would also be happy to teach the listeners a few tips on how to access their intuition quickly and with confidence.” Bio: Sinead Fine is a Natural therapist and Professional Tarot reader for over 20 years. In her early career, she had to navigate being an HSP and at the same time help assist others in their time of need. She quickly discovered that being helping her clients connect to their intuition was vital for their safety and well-being. Then an event occurred that allowed Sinead to experience first hand the wisdom of her intuition. Contact info: Sinead Fine www.tarotforwomen.com Read show notes and learn more at HSPpodcast.com

Reiki, a form of energy healing which originated in Japan about 100 years ago, allows recipients to drop into a place of deep healing and relaxation. HSPs can benefit from energy work especially, as they are more likely than others to pick up energy around them and might need help with releasing it. During my sessions with clients, I incorporate visualizations and techniques for grounding and moving energy, which can be so helpful for HSPs! Emily shares..."I would love for them to hear about the healing and grounding that Reiki can offer. It can be a great self-healing tool too!" Emily Souder is a licensed therapist, intuitive guide, and Reiki master practitioner in Maryland. She has written multiple books, most recently having released Sparks: Inspiration for Extinguishing the Power of Fear and Igniting Amusement, Knowing, and Trust. Emily is often found exploring the outdoors as she homeschools her two children, knowing that she is learning as much as, if not more than, they are. www.nestingspacellc.com Read all the show notes and explore bios at www.HSPpodcast.com.

At some point in the highly sensitive person's life, someone said they were "too sensitive." It makes you doubt yourself and ignore your needs. How to use journaling to honor your sensitive needs and set boundaries. Especially with people who don't honor your boundaries. Mai Oliphant helps people use journaling for healing and growth. Download free journal prompts: https://www.shapemailife.com/ Check out her daily journal prompts on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/shapemailife/ The HSP Podcast with Julie Bjelland www.HSPpodcast.com

Sometimes as highly sensitive people we can become very depleted and overwhelmed. I hope listening to this meditation can help you recover and restore. Check out all the meditations at HSPpodcast.com

My Sensitive Empowerment Community has become a beautiful, supportive,  loving family of HSPs from all over the world.  We share our experiences, connect, make friends, and support each other daily. I also offer weekly live events. I'm sharing the audio from one of our events in hopes it helps you too.  This was our 57th event and all previous events have been recorded and are available to all members. Get the link to join our loving HSP family at www.juliebjelland.com  Here are some of the questions we covered in today's event.  I would like to understand more about being HSP and being empathic.  Are they one in the same or are there differences between the two?    I was wondering if you have any suggestions on how to handle the fear of "disappointing/hurting" someone when you say no or need to correct them on something? I’m wondering how many HSP’s also struggle with addiction in some sort of way. Any tips or support would be appreciated. Are there any major efforts out there to educate parents, doctors, teachers, human resources, and the general public about the trait of HSP's and what to look for? What a positive game-changer it could be for so many HSP's if this trait was common knowledge. I'm curious if there is a link between being HSP and being introverted? Where I am, things are opening up and I'm expected to soon work in the office. How can we manage the fear of venturing out when it seems much safer and calmer at home, especially if it does not seem necessary?  One of my biggest struggles with being an HSP is how to communicate effectively when I am in a heated situation, for example, when someone is angry or screaming. I tend to freeze and lose my ability to speak and then feel irate later. I want to be able to address the situation calmly and in my power but am often so flooded with strong emotion I can not speak. I have the same question, except I don't freeze, I fight. And can't stop until everything I have ever thought comes out. When a fight starts, how can we calm down sooner?  How to deal with when I just am doing nothing but tears start to fall uncontrollably. for example, over the weekend I saw protestors holding signs to support police officers and I felt this tingling sensation and an overwhelming of hotness and tears starting to form (is this “flooding”?) but I was able to hold them back by taking deep breaths and not focusing or looking at the people (I was in the car with my family). Any thoughts on this would be helpful. Thanks. When talking to a spouse about HSP, what do you think are the top 2-3 things to focus on in discussion?  I'd like to avoid making him feel like he needs to change. I think he is feeling criticized when I explain my needs. It's such a huge concept, being HSP, so I would love to know a couple of big things to focus on and a couple of big things to avoid (like common mistakes)? Hoping this makes sense. I just don't know where to start, but I think he is willing to listen. Julie Bjelland is a sensitivity expert, psychotherapist, and author. Her online courses developed for HSPs and her Sensitive Empowerment community have helped thousands of highly sensitive people (HSPs) around the world reduce their challenges, access their gifts, and discover their significant value to truly thrive in the world. Known for her ability to teach people tools that work quickly, Julie is on a mission to empower sensitive people to live their best lives. For more HSP resources and to take Julie’s free Sensitivity Quiz, visit JulieBjelland.com  

HSPs have the capability of making a huge difference in the world. In fact, we need more HSPs to step into heart-centered leadership roles and makers of positive change.  Your heart and your gifts are needed. But if we don’t know how to take care of ourselves in the right ways we are doing a disservice to the world by not showing up thriving. Most of what we have been taught about self-care doesn’t work for us. Learning how to practice the right types of self-care and learn to take care of your sensitive nervous system is the key to thriving as an HSP and helping your gifts emerge to help the world. If a healer/leader/educator/parent is wilting and in survival mode, how much can they help another? HSPs need to do things differently. Getting it right, means you can have enough energy to take care of you, your family, your community, and even the world. Self-care is NOT selfish. NOT practicing the right type of self-care eventually hurts everyone. Take turns at the front lines Rest in between with self-compassion Take control over what you can control Understand what you cannot control Slow down and listen internally the messages are there Get inspired by others and learn tools Be kind to yourself! Loving-kindness toward self is healing and gives you energy and vibrancy When you are thriving you... have more energy use your gifts to contribute to the world can be your best self love life follow your ambitions understand, love & accept yourself feel confident & secure know your value live in balance have a positive, fulfilling life of joy authentically reduce stress, overwhelm, anxiety achieve life & career goals are healthier learn how to support your sensitive nervous system feel in control of your life learn how to self-regulate improve your relationships learn how to emotionally regulate build greater internal resources & feel joy, happiness, calm and peace get calmer are kinder & more supportive of yourself increase self-compassion improve your mindset learn how to set & keep healthy boundaries get unstuck & remove obstacles live a happier life find balance stop worrying & overthinking know how to prepare for life changes learn how to support yourself better live life with intention feel fully alive are higher functioning to improve finances & live more comfortably feel renewed & live in a tranquil flow of life feel better Read show notes, check out our bios and websites at www.HSPpodcast.com

I had a beautiful, heartfelt conversation with author and speaker Michael Arterberry about his journey from hardship, trauma, and growing up in dysfunction to being able to break the cycle and now help others! I am so inspired by his story of strength and resilience and believe you will love it too! Michael now uses those experiences to speak to and inspire teens and adults all over the world. He's such a great example of empowerment. It is people who have overcome tremendous obstacles that can teach us so much.  I really love his inspiring resilience!  His message: “I help people to use what they have gone through to get to their breakthrough. I walk my audience through the effects of their past and present trauma, including the most recent impact of society's imbalance.” Michael Arterberry is the author of the book, Be Encouraged!!! 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement.  He has received several awards such as the USA Network’s Characters Unite Award for exceptional commitment to combating prejudice and discrimination while increasing tolerance and acceptance within the community. He is also the recipient of the 100 Men of Color Award for leadership in education, government, mentorship, entrepreneurial success, and community service. EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD from the Youth Community Outreach Program. Learn more about Michael, get his book for free, and take his 10-week challenge at https://www.michaelarterberry.com/ The course can be found at shakethedirt.com

What is HSS? How can we recognise this part of the trait and what does it mean? How can we be of best service to ourselves when we have this part of the trait? We will be looking at how to manage the need for high sensation experiences when they can so easily lead to overwhelm. Also how to recognise this in others, perhaps friends and family members. This part of the trait is of great benefit and learning to honour it of great importance. Read show notes, bios, and share comments at www.HSPpodcast.com