12 Truths We’d Love to Tell Our Younger Selves about Being HSP
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“If you could go back in time and tell your younger self something important about being a Highly Sensitive Person, what age/stage would you choose … and what would you say?”
I recently asked a group of HSP friends this very question … and here are some of their tender, wise, oh-so-relatable responses.
Which of them resonate most with you?
1. I would tell my high school self, “It is ok that you’re more reflective and deep and don’t feel like you fit in the group(s).”
2. 11 years old: “God made you so uniquely. It’s really ok if others don’t understand the way you learn and react to stimuli.”
3. Junior high: “Family loyalty —especially at holiday times/gatherings — does not mean you can’t take a break if you need to and leave the room to retreat somewhere quieter.”
4. I would tell my 8th-grade self, “Taking time alone to recharge and reflect helps you get to know yourself, understand what you need, and advocate for your needs.”
5. 14 years old, I would say, “Your sensitivity is your strength. When you are discerning and feeling that you don’t want to do something, please follow that gut feeling.”
6. Middle school (yuck 😧): “One loyal friend is more valuable than a group of disloyal ones. The world has a lot of talkers; being a listener is a strength.”
7. 5th or 6th grade, I would say, “There’s nothing wrong with you. Your sensitivities don’t mean you’re broken. You’re actually fine just the way you are.” (It would have made a huge difference in how I approached my teen/puberty years!)
8. I would tell my adolescent self, “You don’t have to be like everyone else.“
9. Ages 10-12 was a time that I always say “life got mean”. I would tell her, “God sees you & you are valuable.” I would help point her to others that would help show her that & encourage & guide her through the pre-teen & teenage years. This would have been a game changer!
10. My senior year of high school. Both of my grandparents passed that year. It was so much to process! I would tell my younger self, “It is okay to feel these feelings. Don’t be afraid of them.”
11. To my 10-12 year-old self: “Your mind and body are wired uniquely.”
12. I’d want younger me to know what it means to be an HSP as young as possible! I’d tell her, “This is something special that sets you apart … and God created you this way for a great purpose.”
The wisdom we’d give our younger selves can guide us today—and encourage others along the way.
What would you tell your younger self about being an HSP?
I’m going to send this to my college aged granddaughter who is currently in counseling to help her navigate being a neurodivergent person. She has struggled socially so much since middle school (yuck) years. But. Is it weird that my reaction to these 12 answers is “isn’t that just how it was/is for every girl?” Though pretty much all of these I relate to, I guess the one that most resonated with me is “ You’re actually fine just the way you are”. I would even like to say to my family of origin “ I’m actually fine just the way I am, it’s a shame you think it’s funny and okay to mock me and dismiss me”. As an adult I’ve come to understand they just couldn’t bear the weight of who I am. There’s grace in that.