The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast with Julie Bjelland

This trait evolved as a survival strategy of the population and the valuable gifts of the sensitive are needed now more than ever. It’s the sensitive who care so deeply and often the first ones who step up to help people and make a difference in the world. HSPs are  often organizing ways to help others, starting non-profits, opening food banks, connecting volunteers, observing and fixing cracks in systems. HSPs are valuable as leaders- they are hard workers, have superior abilities to create powerful teams, lead by example and often most respected by the team, ability to sense people’s strengths and arrange the best teams, etc. They are gifted healers and often the ones in medical settings and some of the best healers of the world, using extra abilities and gifts 80% of the population doesn’t have. Our extra depth of processing helps us see ways to make things better and more efficient and organized. We are innovative and notice patterns others miss. Accessing the full power of the HSP supercomputer brain and our superpowers involves learning how to live in balance. You can’t pour from an empty cup, therefore it is important to manage energy levels. Practicing healthy boundaries, the right amount of self-care for your sensory system, and improving the ability to live in a centered space are essential. It’s important to do things your way following your powerful instincts. We need you thriving in the world. Enjoy this episode and please share! From a listener: “I look forward to listening to these weekly. I liked this one so much I started it over again as soon as it ended. Thank you. :)” https://www.juliebjelland.com/  Willow's website: https://inluminance.com/

Sleep is so essential for our well being. This is a great episode to listen to right before sleep. I guide you into relaxation and then you drift off to sleep to music in the end.

This is a 15 minute visualization meditation to do before you sleep. From a listener: “I tried this last night. It was so good. I fell asleep I think within the first one to two minutes into a deep sleep. Your voice was so soothing, Julie. I will need to listen to the whole thing another time but it sure worked in terms of sleep. Thanks so much for creating this meditation! Much needed as I've been having trouble sleeping the past couple nights. :)”

Dr. Julia Hipp discusses naturopathic approaches to caring for the highly sensitive body during the COVID-19 pandemic. She talks about how your "terrain" or overall health can impact your immune system and ways to decrease your physical, mental and emotional overwhelm. Disclaimer: The information discussed in this podcast does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your physician and/or holistic healthcare provider before trying any new supplements, herbs, exercise or other holistic health care routines.COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Julia Hipp is an HSP-naturopathic-doctor specializing in digestive health and care for the highly sensitive person. She is passionate about helping patients reach their optimal health goals in body, mind and spirit.  Dr. Julia's website: https://achilleamedicine.com/ Julie Bjelland's website: https://www.juliebjelland.com/

Making the conscious choice of choosing positive thoughts on a moment to moment basis. Strengthening the muscle of experiencing heart consciousness and how simple it becomes to access it. Learning to stop feeding the false opinion we have of ourselves. Learning to find the inner resource of knowing. How self love clears the path to meaning and the service we are here to share with the world.   From Listeners:  "This particular episode was soul balm to me! I want to listen to it again because it was so rich and nurturing😊Thank you both! Both of your stories resonated also very much with my experience I went through. And listening to it also helps to put it into words because there are still things that I don’t know yet how to put it in words or express it although I have discovered and explored a lot...there’s always something to learn😊 I like that you were mentioning that even one has already done a lot of inner work it doesn’t mean that you won’t be challenged anymore. That’s so true. Also, all what you were talking about criticism resonated with me. Looking forward to another episode 😊❤" "I enjoyed listening to this episode because there were so many things that I experience and had troubling putting into words and I can't believe others experience that as well. One being the conscious choice of saying to yourself I am not going to go down this negative path of thinking and the false point of view of myself. It  is incredible what nature and sunlight can bring out. Even on the way to driving to the store today I couldn't help but smile at the fresh air and Mamma Mia soundtrack I had playing. It was as if my free child- like happiness unraveled. Thank you for a beautiful episode. I am in hopes to finding my path and purpose in life. Thank you for all you do." https://www.juliebjelland.com/  https://inluminance.com/

There are so many things we can do right now to support ourselves through this crisis. Accessing resiliency and hope can make a big difference. Developing self compassion and brain training skills designed to activate calming centers will also support your balance. I have so many things to teach you that can help you as highly sensitive people and still find hope in crisis. From an HSP listener: “I started coloring yesterday and I immediately felt calm. I like how doing something creative can truly deactivate stress centers. I notice when they are deactivated I feel more myself and at peace; whereas before it was just so much overwhelm I didn’t even feel myself I felt like I didn’t know myself. I also think what you say about self compassion is so important. To truly give the love you give to others and turn in right back into yourself. Then you visualize it as not this overwhelmed anxious ball it’s more like sweet and able to tackle. Thank you for your sweet words and reminding me that something so beautiful will emerge from this growth”

There absolutely can be growth through suffering. In fact it’s our responsibility right now to intentionally take the path towards growth and to recognize the power of this trait of high sensitivity. This trait evolved as a survival strategy of the population. You are needed more than ever.

Willow and  I talk about resiliency today. We share what we are doing to stay resilient and how to access it.  Additionally, I have observed these 10 patterns of what HSPs are doing right now that are helping them to stay resilient.  Practice Self-Compassion: Every HSP I have talked to all over the world who has been practicing self-compassion and has named this to be one of the main reasons they are staying resilient right now. Resilience: HSPs actually have a lot of it and sometimes just need to learn a few tools to access it. Creativity: Activating the creative centers in your brain has a calming effect on the brain! Get creative! Practice healthy boundaries and limit exposure to the news:  It is recommended to limit how much news you take in and only to read enough to stay informed, but not watch it visually. It’s been found that visually watching it increases the feeling of fear and panic.  Avoid watching it and instead read-only to gain what you need to stay informed, but don’t dive deeply into an overwhelmed feeling from it.  Also, limit or avoid people who are toxic or emitting too much negativity right now. You need to take care of your wellness as a priority at this time.   Present focus: Whenever fear or anxiety creep in, focus on what you do have right now and what you are grateful for and that will activate calming centers in your brain. You can learn more about how to activate calming centers that deactivate stress centers here.  Grounded: Having a grounding process right now would be incredibly helpful to calm your whole system.  I find that water, plants, and pets can feel very grounding. Daily task list-stay productive: Setting small goals for yourself that make you feel good seems to be especially helpful for HSPs. Routine self-care: Taking time to honor yourself with the right type of self-care for you is essential.  Self-soothing: I’ve created some meditations and relaxation techniques for HSPs that you might feel calming. Monitor personal energy: Don’t give all your energy points away to everyone and leave none for yourself. Taking care of yourself mind, body and spirit are important right now. If you are balanced, then everyone around you is too and your immune system stays the strongest. Enjoy and please share.

Sensitive Empowerment community members ask me questions live. To ask me questions, see all the things we do in my Sensitive  Empowerment community, and learn how to join us,  visit my website https://www.juliebjelland.com/

Give yourself this gift and allow yourself to relax your body, mind and spirit right now. Take a half hour for self-care if you can, beginning with this 10-minute meditation, followed by another 20 minutes of your own time to reflect and relax in self-care.