An HSP is someone who has what’s called Sensory Processing Sensitivity (this isn’t the same as sensory processing disorder!).
Sensory Processing Sensitivity is a genetically inherited personality trait that’s found in roughly 20% of the population and is split evenly between the sexes.
What it means in practical terms is that HSPs process physical, social, and emotional stimuli much more deeply, which tends to show up as heightened capabilities in these areas:
Empathy—we’re highly tuned in to the moods and emotions of those around us.
Creativity—many of us are artists, designers, innovators, entrepreneurs, or are good at coming up with novel ideas and different ways of thinking about things.
Sensory intelligence—we’re deeply aware of our environments and often pick up on things that others don’t, like subtle scents, textures, flavors, microexpressions on a person’s face, typos, the brushstrokes in a painting. This is part of what makes HSPs so highly intuitive!
Depth of processing—we take in more information, so it takes us longer to process it, but that extra processing time often leads to careful decision-making, novel ideas, and an ability to connect-the-dots. This also contributes to HSP’s high intuitiveness.
Depth of emotion—we experience intense feelings, both positive and negative, and can sometimes be overwhelmed by them.
Have you heard of this term before, and are YOU a highly sensitive person? Let me know in the comments!