This is What Every Sensitive Heart Needs to Hear
“Growing Sensitive & Strong” is the life-changing program that moves you from “What’s wrong with me?” to comfortable and confident in who God made you as a Highly Sensitive Person.
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How did I let this happen?
My body is frozen in disbelief, but my mind is whirling at warp speed.
I shouldn’t have … I should have … I can’t believe …
My arm swings into motion, my hand reaches for my computer keyboard, and my finger hits the “mute” button.
But it’s too late.
The damage is done.
My Inner Critic takes a deep breath.
How It Happened
I didn’t mean for this to happen.
But there’s a reason my father often told me when I was a child, “You didn’t mean for it not to happen.”
I’m not a detail person.
If I were a detail person, I wouldn’t have tested my new portable speaker in the main conference room while a keynote message was being delivered.
I would have thought to plug in my earbuds before connecting the speaker to my computer.
And I would have made sure that nothing with sound was queued up on my computer.
Especially not a video.
But I’m not a detail person.
So while sitting unnoticed in the back of the conference room, I connected my new portable speaker to my computer without earbuds. Or checking the volume.
While connecting the speaker to my computer, I accidentally hit the space bar.
Which started the video playing.
It was a video of me.
So in the middle of the keynote presentation, “Hi! I’m Cheri Gregory!” blasts—on HIGH volume.
And suddenly, I am no longer sitting unnoticed in the back of the conference room.
What Happened Next
Right as my Inner Critic is about to unload on me with both barrels blazing, I feel a hand on my arm.
It’s my friend Kathi.
She says two simple words that feel simultaneously impossible and irresistible.
“You’re okay.”
For an elastic moment, I teeter on the brink of who to believe.
Inner Critic or Kathi?
I already know what my Inner Critic will say. After all, I’ve been listening to him for more than five decades.
And I know that the results of listening to my Inner Critic will be
- embarrassment
- profuse apologies
- never-endings attempts to “make up for it”
“You’re okay.”
What would it be like to believe this?
What a wild idea.
What if it’s actually true?
Wilder still.
“You’re okay.”
Okay, then.
I take a halting breath.
I’m okay.
My Inner Critic deflates without a word.
I’m okay.
And I am.
What Every Sensitive Heart Needs to Hear
“You’re okay.”
Who knew that two tiny words could pack such power?
God, of course.
Scripture is full of Him assuring us, “You’re okay” in one way or another.
Last week, we tackled a tough topic: hypervigillance. And I’m working on a practical follow-up post on managing the two sneaky fear responses that are most common among HSPs: Freeze and Fawn.
But today, I don’t want to overload you with more information.
I just want to share a simple story about two small words that are helping me dial down my own hypervigilance.
And remind you that that this is how God speaks to your sensitive heart:
“Don’t be afraid.” Mark 5:36 (NIV)
You’re okay.
“It is I! Do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27 (NIV)
You’re okay.
“So do not fear, for I am with you.” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
You’re okay.
Now, it’s your turn:
Okay, then.
I’m okay.
Thank you, Cheri! I needed to hear these words today.
I felt redeemed from my past embarrassing experiences. Thank you for reminding me that “I am, OK”. Being surrounded by judgmental people is a challenge especially when you see them laugh at someone’s mistake but starting today I can pay forward these powerful words …my dear “You’re okay”.
This is great advice, even to repeat to myself in times when I feel so overwhelmed I just want to cry. Thanks for sharing!! It’s to know that I’m not alone!
I so needed to hear this today!!! Thank you Cheri and also thank you Kathi! I’m so grateful and glad God made you two wonderful people to help me give grace to my own soul.
Blessings back to you Cheri for creating this grace place for tender-hearted Christ-followers❤️Jo
Cheri,
I feel your pain. But, it makes a great story. My sister was at a funeral recently and she forgot to turn off her GPS before she went into the sanctuary. Right before the pastor began speaking her GPS said, “YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR FINAL DESTINATION!”😂 The horror, the horror! I can laugh because it happened to her. She is not an HSP. I would have been on the floor😳Stuff happens. Remind me of that when I need it, please. 😀
GREAT TO HEAR YOUR GOOD WORDS. LOOK FORWARD TO THEM ALL. OX
I too have a “Kathy” in my life and those words spoken are sweet, sweet to my soul! My prayer is to learn to more quickly claim them for my own! Thanks so much!
I agree especially with the “never ending attempts to make up for it.” The guilt can be so hard that we can’t stop trying to make amends. I do it all the time and it’s tiresome.
Thank you for posting! Your blog is a wonderful help!!
What an excellent friend Kathi is. I want her to be my friend too. : )
I’m taking those words, “You’re ok”, for myself. I might even consider them for my first tattoo (on my aging, wrinkly skin) I think I would put them along the side of my index finger, where I would see them when my eyes are cast down and my hands are locked together.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you. I love this blog. What a God-send it has been.
Blessings
Love this-I need the reminder that I am OK. But, I have to admit, I did laugh out loud. It is because I’ve totally done this and it is SO EMBARRASSING, but I am glad I can laugh about it now.
A number of years ago, I experienced a “You’re Ok” moment after a terrible experience in church. My husband was traveling and our two year old son somehow convinced me that he was capable of sitting quietly in church so I did not take him to the nursery and he sat with me. When I realized my error (stop laughing please) I told him I was taking him out and in a last ditch effort to remain, he grabbed the back of the pew in front of us. I pried his little fingers loose and started toward the back of the church and the dear child grabbed the back of the next pew – and he did that again and again all the way to the back of the church, all while screaming, “Somebody help me!” Yup, that happened.
I took him to the nursery and snuck into the back of the church, trying to be invisible. A dear, sweet wonderful grandpa later touched me gently on the arm and said, “Don’t feel bad – we have all been there and probably will be again someday!” I’ve since told him how important his kindness was. Thanks Cheri for the reminder!
Thank you! Thank you! I’m Ok. Glad I’m not alone. Good post! Awesome post!
Thankyou. Thankyou. Thankyou. It’s OK. I’m OK. Thankyou.
This was just what I needed to read today. Thank you.
Awesome post. Awesome story. Awesome response (Kathi’s and yours)! Thanks for sharing.
We all need a friend like Kathi. Friends should fight for us.
<3
Oh my gosh Cheri, I love you. Many times in the last few weeks those two words have been spoken to my heart. No particular reason a crying jag threatens, I hear”Your Okay”. Restarting a ministry I have done multiple times but a fear is bubbling up about messing it up. I hear ,”Your Okay”. My hubby is deployed and I am living alone for the first time ever. I am coming face to face with figuring out who Sue is and my new/true reasoning for why God made me the way he did and what that means in serving Him. I am finding strength that I forgot I had but also realities that I usually run from. Bottom line is while I’m walking this trail, God is whispering, I’m Okay.