Some of us came into this world with a sensitive part. Some of us didn’t. If you are one of the sensitive souls, I see you. For being sensitive has also been a place for me to grow and learn and heal. It hasn’t been easy, it still isn’t easy. It has been crucial though to acknowledge this part within me in order to harness my power within. Sensitivity for me can feel like putting my head in muddy water where things are all stirred up. I feel as if I can’t see straight or know which way is right-side up or upside down.
I remember in my 20s when I was meeting with a therapist for the first time, a lot was getting stirred. So much so that it was hard to function in my everyday life. At one point after a few years of seeing this therapist, I remember telling my friend as if I had just reached the summit of Mt. Everest. I said, “I finally feel like my sensitivity is not going to take me out.” Something shifted. I believe it was my SOUL finding her voice and power for the first time.
My SOUL was there saying,
“There is something deeper within that is holding you. Yes, you are sensitive, and yes you have a SOUL that is strong enough to bear those waters. You don’t need to worry anymore.”
And from then on, my sensitive part didn’t feel like a threat anymore. Which as you can imagine was relieving because to live with a perceived threat inside oneself is the worst threat of all.
It is here that I feel our culture has failed us immensely. In other cultures, it is more than normal and welcomed to grieve throughout any given day. There are rituals set up within daily living to support those who need to birth strong emotions. Whereas, our culture does not share this kind of daily instinctual support. Our culture welcomes those who are strong and “put together.” I feel like this is currently shifting as so many brave souls are sharing their vulnerable stories with one another as if to declare, this is the only way forward. Connection and authenticity is the path to healing.
And, I believe that our culture can better support this natural aspect of humanity on a way deeper level.
Imagine if you are grieving, and there is someone in town whose only job is to set up a grief ritual tailored just to your situation? You call this person and they instantly feel like your family, as if they have known you since you were born and they know the exact reason for why you are here on this earth. You discuss with them for as long as you need, maybe weeks, maybe months and eventually this all leads up to a ritual crafted just for you. You step inside and there you find others who are being called as mothers to help you. You then are safe to birth it all out, all the grief locked inside your every cell. You feel as if you are a baby in a mother’s womb again held by the most delicate of care. It is here that you can breathe deeply again.
And this is all normal. In fact, this is already crafted into daily living.
Wow, just writing this out makes my heart breathe deeper, and my sensitivity feel held. A lot of relief can happen once we realize that some or if not an enormous amount of our pain could have been prevented. That is a hard pill to swallow, and also needs to be acknowledged if our society and culture as a whole wants to genuinely support one another to truly live. Like Jack London says, “the proper function of man is to live.”