This is One of the Most Healing Experiences We Can Have

by | Jul 17, 2022 | Anxiety, Highly Sensitive Person, HSP, Shame | 24 comments

I posted this short piece on Instagram a couple of weeks ago but wanted to share it here as well for those of you who not on social media, especially as a follow-up on last week’s post on shame.

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Being understood is one of the most healing experiences we can have.

So here we go…

 

I see your sensitivity, and it’s a gift to behold. I see your tender heart that feels compassion for every living thing in this world, and even for non-living things (stuffed animals, cars, blankets)

 

I marvel at your creativity: the poetry, songs, art, dance, the waterfall of words that tumble through you.

 

 

I hear your intrusive thoughts, and there’s not a thought you could share with me that would shock me or make me think less of you because 1. I’ve heard them all and 2. I know that intrusive thoughts are messengers, protectors, and metaphors that are evidence of your exquisite sensitivity and are attempts to bring you back to wholeness.

 

 

I hold your shame: the deep-seated belief that there’s something wrong with you, that you’re broken, that you’re not enough or too much. This shame, like intrusive thoughts, is also a protector and a messenger.

 

 

My deepest intention in doing the work that I do is to help highly sensitive people remove their veils and barricades of shame so that they can see themselves as the beautiful humans that they are. Sometimes that starts with someone else seeing you, in all of your darkness and in your radiant light.

 

 

I see you.

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24 Comments

  1. We often have too many thoughts that should be ignored, especially the ones that keep us small

    Reply
    • This touches so deeply it takes my breath away.

      I believe this to be true about you. This is who I am experiencing, and yes, it is deeply healing and supportive of loving myself more honestly and compassionately.

      So grateful to know you from afar. Thank you for being a journey partner in your beautiful courses. ❤️

      Reply
      • So grateful to know you, too, Lori. Such a gift you are. ❤️

        Reply
  2. Aw!!! Thank you so much, Sheryl. I’ve been thinking just the past couple of days about how important it is to see *myself*, and how, if I don’t see myself, I depend completely on others to see me and don’t even feel satisfied when they do see me. And at the same time, it feels so good to 1. feel it acknowledged in this post how important it is to be seen, and 2. to feel seen by your words in this post. It’s a good reminder that others can help us heal. Thanks 🤗

    Reply
    • Thank you, Sheryl ❤

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    • Yes, Jamie! It’s an essential infinity loop: we know and love ourselves by being known and loved by others; and the more we know and love ourselves, the more we can let in others’ clear-seeing.

      Reply
  3. In the depths of my anxiety and shame, this means so much to me and indeed feel seen. Thank you Sheryl ❤️

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    • I’m so glad you felt seen, Melissa, and I’m sending big hugs as you navigate this wave of anxiety.

      Reply
  4. Mine landed in the wrong space, my apologies.

    Reply
  5. Thank you. These are helpful words as I find myself in the midst of a painful dilemma that has awakened all my anxiety demons I thought were in hibernation. Do you have any advice for how to access your truth while being torn between two good options?

    Reply
    • It’s usually a matter of accessing the time and patience that lead to self-trust, which are very hard to access (especially these days). And also remembering that there are no mistakes in life; only learning. If it’s two good options then you can’t go wrong.

      Reply
  6. I read your book and after the first pages, I found myself all over in tears. For the first time in my life, I felt completely understood. Thank you so much for your so important work ❤️

    Reply
    • I’m so glad my words have reached you, Miriam. ❤️❤️

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    • Thank you Sheryl for understanding. I can’t seem to find much needed healing in my relationship, that my partner could ‚stay’ with me/us when it’s hard, he avoids investigating his inability to do so in depth, and his walls of anger (his incredibly strong protection) make my inner child feel so much shame/i am too much, that i almost want to take all the ‚blame‘ just not to lose the love. Today is so hard. I know my wounding can be hard for him, i remember how it has been for me when my mom struggled and was crying a lot, but i still feel have done so much work on becoming more conscious and deserve a more loving support and not a confirmation of my too much- ness. If you have any advice i would appreciate it deeply. Thank you for your work, i have ‚saved‘ myself with it, and i appreciate you so much.

      Reply
  7. For me and so many others (most others I can imagine), you are the only person to have said these words and seen anxiety in this way in our whole lives. You are truly such a wonderful gift and the beauty is that you instil this way of seeing anxiety in people who can then pass that onto their friends or family who are highly sensitive and struggling with anxiety – it’s a way of seeing anxiety that I hope can spread across the world ❤️

    Reply
    • Thank you so much, George. Your words have touched me deeply. ❤️❤️

      Reply
  8. I smiled at “I see your tender heart that feels compassion for every living thing in this world, and even for non-living things (stuffed animals, cars, blankets)” … 100% me hehehe 🙂

    Reply
    • I smiled at this, too. This has been me for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is losing a toy as a child and not grieving my own loss, but rather worrying about how the toy was feeling lost, alone, and abandoned. Thank you for this, Sheryl.

      Reply
      • Yes! Such beautiful humans, the highly HIGHLY sensitives.

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  9. This made me smile, laugh, and cry. I felt seen – I have a childhood blanket I named and will never get rid of even though it is in shreds, I felt compassion towards my stuffed animals (especially if I was giving them away! – who will love them?), I am often a waterfall of words and thoughts and ideas … Slowly but surely you have helped me to arrive at the profound and life changing realization that I am an HSP. I hope you know that I see you too. Much love.

    Reply
    • I’m so glad you feel seen, Lauren, and yes I do feel seen by you, too :). ❤️❤️

      Reply

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