For HSPs, the conventional workplace often feels like a daily battle against sensory overload and emotional exhaustion and there are several reasons we don't thrive in traditional careers.
My parents always tell me to stop job hopping. I've never felt aligned with any job! All I wanted to do was break out of traditional norms, write stories, do art, and travel the world. A lot of things resonated with me. I've always felt aligned with myself when I'm freelancing/collaborating with resonating people and shouting out stories to inspire the world via my words.
I don't know where I'm going or how I'll end up there. This piece gives me so much hope to see that there are people like me, and nothing feels as validating as that! A loot of this resonates big! Thanks for this beautiful piece, Rachel!
Oh thank you Anjali, I appreciate you so much! I hear you - I was exactly the same and never felt any alignment with any of my jobs either. I only began feeling this once I stepped into freelancing and self-employment and had the freedom to do work on my terms, it's such a dramatic shift in energy isn't it? I don't think we need to see the full staircase to know where we're going, as long as we're being honest and true with ourselves ❤️
You've just described my whole working life 😂 it's so validating to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with regular 9-5s in this way. As you say, society can make us feel like it's our fault, or like we're just not trying hard enough. I've tried to fit myself into jobs that I knew just weren't right for me so many times over the years, and it's always ended in exhaustion, illness or burn out.
I think we owe it to ourselves to trust that we can work differently and to figure out what works best for us.
You're definitely not alone Helen! And you're absolutely right - we owe it to ourselves to figure out a new way that aligns with our true selves. It's when we try and contort ourselves into boxes that society demands of us that we end up shrinking to try and fit into something that was never made for us in the first place. I'm so grateful for you being here and sharing your story ❤️
So glad this connected with you Melissa and I'm sorry to hear that work is feeling out of alignment for you. I truly believe there's a way to make work work for you, so don't give up hope yet! ❤️
I finally accepted that I needed to create the work I wanted in the world, but I hadn’t connected it to me being an HSP. I’m now spinning up my own coaching business. Thanks for sharing this!
I just read your post and it sounds like we've had similar journeys with the corporate world that promises so much, yet consistently failing to recognise or meet our core needs as HSP's. I'm so grateful for you sharing your story and for being here. There is hope for us yet, I'm sure of it! ❤️
Yes there is! I truly believe we’re in a season of the world when the gifts of HSPs are needed now more than ever! Glad that you are providing leadership to fellow HSPs through your work.❤️
Yes. I couldn't understand how people could STAND to be in "real jobs." Once I escaped into self-employment (deep sigh of massive relief), I couldn't understand why ANYONE would ever go back. This is it, 1000%.
I truly had no idea I was different. I just thought other people could process faster, tune out better, and be more "emotionally mature" than me. FFS. They weren't even hearing the clitter clatter of keyboards or remotely picking up on the sinister back-stabby meeting vibes.
Anyway, chronic illness cranked all this up to a 12. I write about how I keep working (for myself!) through all this sensitivity AND a body breakdown.
Ohhh yes, all of this. The “real job” mystery still baffles me - how are people not totally unraveling under fluorescent lights and passive-aggressive meetings?! 😅 I really relate to what you said about not knowing you were different, same here. I just thought I was broken, when really, I was just wired differently. And wow, navigating chronic illness on top of that? That’s next-level resilience. Your writing sounds like such a needed perspective. Thank you for sharing this ❤️
Thank you so much for the kind words! I think a lot of people are unraveling and just haven't unraveled enough to feel it yet...and I think some people just aren't registering it at all and never will. It's hard to believe! But they're truly fine. (And those same people would crumble under my 12-hour focus-a-thons!)
I can relate I recently discovered in my 50s that I was ADHD, gifted, HSP, and had CPTSD. It explained so much. Why I was sooo exhausted and I didn't have the energy to "hustle" to start my biz after work. I fortunately joined a 2e group —Twice exceptional, meaning having giftedness and something else in the neurodiversity realm, most have more than two — lead by a psychologist that specializes in it for support. And we are all different.
Wow, what an incredible journey of self-discovery Zara! That must have been both validating and overwhelming to finally have the language for so much of what you’ve experienced ❤️ It makes so much sense why exhaustion has been such a big factor for you - navigating the world as a 2e person, especially without knowing it for so long, is a lot.
I love that you’ve found a supportive group with others who truly understand. It’s so true- - there’s no one-size-fits-all path, especially for those of us who are neurodivergent and highly sensitive. Honoring your energy and pacing yourself in a way that works for you is the best thing you can do ☺️
I didn’t realize I was an HSP until my mid to late 30s, I just turned 40. So just a few years ago. I cried with the realization. I’ve changed careers several times and feel like I’m always in the process of finding something new. I struggle with sticking to one thing and it’s cost me financial ups and downs. I’m still trying to figure it out and feel pressured to do so quickly so I’m not homeless, hungry, or in severe debt. I do not enjoy that pressure and wish to enjoy the process a bit more.
Oh I can definitely relate to this as well, so you're not alone! Trust that in your wisdom you will be able to find an aligned path forward - it's only when we look back at our life and reflect on what's working and what's not can we start making new and different choices that support our whole and true selves. Thank you so much for being here and sharing your journey ❤️
I can relate so much to you. Always on the search for something new, with the pressure of finding it quickly because you cannot afford just only looking around.
Being an HSP coupled with severe social anxiety has literally frozen me in jobs. In my current role, the overstimulation, short deadlines at times, requirements to be in front of groups, and non-stop interaction have me coming home fatigued and near tears some days. The overwhelming shame I carry leads me to wear a mask day after day, hiding everything I feel at work. I truly believe I'm slowly killing myself, it's taking a toll. But I don't know a way out. I love the people I work with, but if I could choose a job that's more flexible, less rigid, less interactive, still financially secure for me & my family, AND not feel like a failure in doing so, I'd leave in a heartbeat.
Oh Kim, I feel every word you've just shared and can completely relate to this. It's heartbreaking when you have such good intentions with your job and the people you work with, but it simply doesn't align with who you are. This way of being takes a toll on our wellbeing long term, so I don't believe it's a sustainable way of working. There are definitely solutions though, and a way to make 'work' work, I've just shared another post about designing a portfolio career which could be an option for you and allows you to create the spaciousness in your days as well as the flexibility you need to thrive. Would love to know your thoughts on if this could work for you? https://rachelgadiel.substack.com/p/portfolio-career-highly-sensitive-people
This is all so true. I was following a trajectory into academia and soon discovered that teaching four courses plus prep and grading and dealing with administrators was destroying my mental health. I recall the day I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. I had just finished my morning’s classes and walked to my parents’ house, who lived nearby, for lunch. I could not even speak. I was so completely drained and exhausted from forcing myself into this career. My husband could see what was happening to me and encouraged me to quit, which I did. Everything just hits me so hard. For example, I am sitting on an airplane right now, and the smell of the food is making me nauseous. I don’t know if this is typical of HSPs but smells are so important. If they’re nice, they can be mystical. If they’re not, they’re nearly unbearable. Also sounds. My husband is the opposite. I joke that he only has a comfort zone whereas I pretty much only have a discomfort zone! Must be nice to be him!
Oh yes 100% Martha, I can relate to all of this, especially the heightening of the senses; including smell and sound! I find it particularly challenging being in close proximity to people wearing strong fragrances which triggers me and I'm very hypersensitive to noise. I'm so glad you were able to quit your job that wasn't serving you and I hope your experiences have given you the wisdom to design a more aligned path - I truly believe this is possible for all HSP's, even if it means taking a winding path to get there. Thank you so much for sharing your journey here ❤️
This is a new concept/term for me! Curious, what's the difference between HSP and neurodivergence? I have ADHD and a lot of the experiences seem to overlap.
Yes, I've definitely read/heard that some people consider there to be an overlap between the two due to the way our brain processes information, however no specific studies have shown an official link between them. I'm curious about this as well! This blog post goes into it and may be an interesting read for you. I think that both exist on a spectrum and that it's open for your own interpretation on what resonates most with you ☺️ https://highlysensitiverefuge.com/are-highly-sensitive-people-neurodivergent/
This is so fascinating!! I’ve recognised myself as a HSP for a long time now and more recently I’m pretty sure I have ADHD. I will definitely read your blog post 😊
HSP is a term coined 30 years ago, and some now think of it as highly masked ASD. Burnout can occur not only from being overstimulated but also from masking.
ADHD and ASD are more difficult to diagnose in women (as you probably know) because diagnostic tools were developed around the presentation in men.
Just because someone has a disorder or disability, that doesn’t make them deficient! The goal of diagnosis should be to remove shame and provide accommodations.
How you feel about it and how you define yourself is up to you. 🫶
I feel as if this were written for me!! Every word landed - thank you. Susan Cain’s Quiet and Elaine Aron’s HSP books were genuinely two moments that changed my life and how I viewed myself and helped me move away from the thoughts - “why can’t I keep up with others my age!?” My HSP traits have made me a kind, caring and inspiring corporate leader but at huge personal cost - health, energy, burnout. I am beginning to step back and reassess what is next so reading this was timely. Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you Sinead for your kind words, I'm so glad they were so timely for you! Absolutely, we have so many incredible strengths that lead to being exceptional leaders, but taking care of ourselves and meeting our needs as HSP's is key. I hope this gives you some good inspiration for your next steps ☺️
Yes, I totally get that! Some jobs definitely come with unavoidable “people-ing” 😅 A semi-remote beach cottage sounds so dreamy though… peaceful, grounding, and totally HSP-approved. Here’s to moving closer to that dream, one step at a time ✨
This is so well written! I always struggled with what was my issue and then i heard the term highly sensitive person. It’s changed my life to better see and understand myself. I just changed jobs from a 9-5 to a more flexible job in ministry and it is the perfect fit because of everything you said! Thank you for your work on this!
Thank you so much ☺️ It’s amazing how life-changing it is when we finally have the language to understand ourselves. I’m so happy to hear you’ve found a role that honours your nature - that kind of alignment is everything ❤️
Thank you for writing this. I recognise myself in this and it's equal parts reassuring and terrifying. I have done a good job balancing things at work so I have some self-employed, flexible time, but I'm still building that side of my business. I struggle with my part time 9-5. I am grateful it's a remote role, as there is no overstimulating office environment, but the rigid schedule and lack of control is very grating, not to mention the fact that I can't set my own salary and am being underpaid. It's frustrating feeling so much but I am grateful my work/life balance is manageable thus far. This piece has given me some more things to think about, thank you!
I am on the ‘other side’ already— left corporate life in 2016 to set up my own consultancy, and have been much happier since. No more burnout (after two episodes of ‘why can’t I handle this?’ at two different companies), my physical health has improved, I am doing only the parts of my previous career that I enjoy. All this was intuitive: a year ago I was ‘officially’ diagnosed as a HSP with ADHD. All the pieces fell into place.
Oh, the familarity! As a highly intuitive, sensitive empath I got to feel all that myself, and have watchd others fall into the same trap. It is certainly the system that society has created (people, men and women alike, over generations, passed down, conditioned, boundaries? Who do you think you are? We are all meant to be equal, the same, we must fight for it - Yeah sure!), into which people like us were born into but just don't fit in at al. We can sense when sth feels off from miles away because we are thin-boundaried people, and we need to establish boundaries for our overall well-being to be able to live in this ridged and conditioned world... not to be sucked in and spat out. But to stand in our own power as HSPs, sensitives, intuitives & empaths!
Yes, exactly this. You’ve articulated it so powerfully - the generational conditioning, the lack of boundaries, the pressure to conform… it’s exhausting for those of us who feel everything so deeply. We really weren’t built for the rigidity of this system. But you’re right - our sensitivity isn’t a flaw, it’s our power. The more we honour our energy and stand in that truth, the more we reshape the world around us. Thank you for sharing this - I’m so glad we’re not alone in this journey ❤️
Thank you for this post! I have been freelancing since the dawn of my professional career but I am contemplating entering a corporate environment due to the financial instability of freelancing. I do feel like I was meant to see this article, realizing that entering a 9-5 may be a tough environment for me. Freelancing brings about its own challenges as an HSP as well!
I’m so glad you saw this at the perfect time Jeanna ☺️ It sounds like you’re at a real crossroads, and I completely understand the pull between financial stability and the need for a work environment that truly supports your energy, I've been there. Freelancing definitely has its challenges (especially as an HSP!), but so does the corporate world - it really comes down to which challenges feel more manageable for you in the long run.
Whatever path you choose, know that you can find a way to create stability without sacrificing your well-being. Maybe there’s a way to bring more security into freelancing, or perhaps designing a portfolio style career where you can balance a part-time or contract role that could offer the best of both worlds? Trust yourself to know what’s right for you ✨ PS you might find this post helpful: https://rachelgadiel.substack.com/p/portfolio-career-highly-sensitive-people
My parents always tell me to stop job hopping. I've never felt aligned with any job! All I wanted to do was break out of traditional norms, write stories, do art, and travel the world. A lot of things resonated with me. I've always felt aligned with myself when I'm freelancing/collaborating with resonating people and shouting out stories to inspire the world via my words.
I don't know where I'm going or how I'll end up there. This piece gives me so much hope to see that there are people like me, and nothing feels as validating as that! A loot of this resonates big! Thanks for this beautiful piece, Rachel!
Oh thank you Anjali, I appreciate you so much! I hear you - I was exactly the same and never felt any alignment with any of my jobs either. I only began feeling this once I stepped into freelancing and self-employment and had the freedom to do work on my terms, it's such a dramatic shift in energy isn't it? I don't think we need to see the full staircase to know where we're going, as long as we're being honest and true with ourselves ❤️
You've just described my whole working life 😂 it's so validating to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with regular 9-5s in this way. As you say, society can make us feel like it's our fault, or like we're just not trying hard enough. I've tried to fit myself into jobs that I knew just weren't right for me so many times over the years, and it's always ended in exhaustion, illness or burn out.
I think we owe it to ourselves to trust that we can work differently and to figure out what works best for us.
You're definitely not alone Helen! And you're absolutely right - we owe it to ourselves to figure out a new way that aligns with our true selves. It's when we try and contort ourselves into boxes that society demands of us that we end up shrinking to try and fit into something that was never made for us in the first place. I'm so grateful for you being here and sharing your story ❤️
I'm autistic. This is me to a T. Work is not great.
So glad this connected with you Melissa and I'm sorry to hear that work is feeling out of alignment for you. I truly believe there's a way to make work work for you, so don't give up hope yet! ❤️
Mine too.
I resonated with this deeply! I’ve had multiple rounds of burnout in the corporate world due to all the reasons you stated. I wrote on my Substack about it: https://shespeakssoftly.substack.com/p/ugly-betty-and-me.
I finally accepted that I needed to create the work I wanted in the world, but I hadn’t connected it to me being an HSP. I’m now spinning up my own coaching business. Thanks for sharing this!
I just read your post and it sounds like we've had similar journeys with the corporate world that promises so much, yet consistently failing to recognise or meet our core needs as HSP's. I'm so grateful for you sharing your story and for being here. There is hope for us yet, I'm sure of it! ❤️
Yes there is! I truly believe we’re in a season of the world when the gifts of HSPs are needed now more than ever! Glad that you are providing leadership to fellow HSPs through your work.❤️
Yes. I couldn't understand how people could STAND to be in "real jobs." Once I escaped into self-employment (deep sigh of massive relief), I couldn't understand why ANYONE would ever go back. This is it, 1000%.
I truly had no idea I was different. I just thought other people could process faster, tune out better, and be more "emotionally mature" than me. FFS. They weren't even hearing the clitter clatter of keyboards or remotely picking up on the sinister back-stabby meeting vibes.
Anyway, chronic illness cranked all this up to a 12. I write about how I keep working (for myself!) through all this sensitivity AND a body breakdown.
Ohhh yes, all of this. The “real job” mystery still baffles me - how are people not totally unraveling under fluorescent lights and passive-aggressive meetings?! 😅 I really relate to what you said about not knowing you were different, same here. I just thought I was broken, when really, I was just wired differently. And wow, navigating chronic illness on top of that? That’s next-level resilience. Your writing sounds like such a needed perspective. Thank you for sharing this ❤️
Thank you so much for the kind words! I think a lot of people are unraveling and just haven't unraveled enough to feel it yet...and I think some people just aren't registering it at all and never will. It's hard to believe! But they're truly fine. (And those same people would crumble under my 12-hour focus-a-thons!)
I can relate I recently discovered in my 50s that I was ADHD, gifted, HSP, and had CPTSD. It explained so much. Why I was sooo exhausted and I didn't have the energy to "hustle" to start my biz after work. I fortunately joined a 2e group —Twice exceptional, meaning having giftedness and something else in the neurodiversity realm, most have more than two — lead by a psychologist that specializes in it for support. And we are all different.
Wow, what an incredible journey of self-discovery Zara! That must have been both validating and overwhelming to finally have the language for so much of what you’ve experienced ❤️ It makes so much sense why exhaustion has been such a big factor for you - navigating the world as a 2e person, especially without knowing it for so long, is a lot.
I love that you’ve found a supportive group with others who truly understand. It’s so true- - there’s no one-size-fits-all path, especially for those of us who are neurodivergent and highly sensitive. Honoring your energy and pacing yourself in a way that works for you is the best thing you can do ☺️
I didn’t realize I was an HSP until my mid to late 30s, I just turned 40. So just a few years ago. I cried with the realization. I’ve changed careers several times and feel like I’m always in the process of finding something new. I struggle with sticking to one thing and it’s cost me financial ups and downs. I’m still trying to figure it out and feel pressured to do so quickly so I’m not homeless, hungry, or in severe debt. I do not enjoy that pressure and wish to enjoy the process a bit more.
Oh I can definitely relate to this as well, so you're not alone! Trust that in your wisdom you will be able to find an aligned path forward - it's only when we look back at our life and reflect on what's working and what's not can we start making new and different choices that support our whole and true selves. Thank you so much for being here and sharing your journey ❤️
I can relate so much to you. Always on the search for something new, with the pressure of finding it quickly because you cannot afford just only looking around.
The struggle is real. Here’s to both of us finding the thing(s) that bring us joy and financial success. Our time is now
Yes, I am with you!!
Being an HSP coupled with severe social anxiety has literally frozen me in jobs. In my current role, the overstimulation, short deadlines at times, requirements to be in front of groups, and non-stop interaction have me coming home fatigued and near tears some days. The overwhelming shame I carry leads me to wear a mask day after day, hiding everything I feel at work. I truly believe I'm slowly killing myself, it's taking a toll. But I don't know a way out. I love the people I work with, but if I could choose a job that's more flexible, less rigid, less interactive, still financially secure for me & my family, AND not feel like a failure in doing so, I'd leave in a heartbeat.
Oh Kim, I feel every word you've just shared and can completely relate to this. It's heartbreaking when you have such good intentions with your job and the people you work with, but it simply doesn't align with who you are. This way of being takes a toll on our wellbeing long term, so I don't believe it's a sustainable way of working. There are definitely solutions though, and a way to make 'work' work, I've just shared another post about designing a portfolio career which could be an option for you and allows you to create the spaciousness in your days as well as the flexibility you need to thrive. Would love to know your thoughts on if this could work for you? https://rachelgadiel.substack.com/p/portfolio-career-highly-sensitive-people
This is all so true. I was following a trajectory into academia and soon discovered that teaching four courses plus prep and grading and dealing with administrators was destroying my mental health. I recall the day I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. I had just finished my morning’s classes and walked to my parents’ house, who lived nearby, for lunch. I could not even speak. I was so completely drained and exhausted from forcing myself into this career. My husband could see what was happening to me and encouraged me to quit, which I did. Everything just hits me so hard. For example, I am sitting on an airplane right now, and the smell of the food is making me nauseous. I don’t know if this is typical of HSPs but smells are so important. If they’re nice, they can be mystical. If they’re not, they’re nearly unbearable. Also sounds. My husband is the opposite. I joke that he only has a comfort zone whereas I pretty much only have a discomfort zone! Must be nice to be him!
Oh yes 100% Martha, I can relate to all of this, especially the heightening of the senses; including smell and sound! I find it particularly challenging being in close proximity to people wearing strong fragrances which triggers me and I'm very hypersensitive to noise. I'm so glad you were able to quit your job that wasn't serving you and I hope your experiences have given you the wisdom to design a more aligned path - I truly believe this is possible for all HSP's, even if it means taking a winding path to get there. Thank you so much for sharing your journey here ❤️
This is a new concept/term for me! Curious, what's the difference between HSP and neurodivergence? I have ADHD and a lot of the experiences seem to overlap.
Yes, I've definitely read/heard that some people consider there to be an overlap between the two due to the way our brain processes information, however no specific studies have shown an official link between them. I'm curious about this as well! This blog post goes into it and may be an interesting read for you. I think that both exist on a spectrum and that it's open for your own interpretation on what resonates most with you ☺️ https://highlysensitiverefuge.com/are-highly-sensitive-people-neurodivergent/
This is so fascinating!! I’ve recognised myself as a HSP for a long time now and more recently I’m pretty sure I have ADHD. I will definitely read your blog post 😊
HSP is a term coined 30 years ago, and some now think of it as highly masked ASD. Burnout can occur not only from being overstimulated but also from masking.
ADHD and ASD are more difficult to diagnose in women (as you probably know) because diagnostic tools were developed around the presentation in men.
Just because someone has a disorder or disability, that doesn’t make them deficient! The goal of diagnosis should be to remove shame and provide accommodations.
How you feel about it and how you define yourself is up to you. 🫶
Yes completely agree; also that both exist on a spectrum that's open for your own interpretation ☺️
I feel as if this were written for me!! Every word landed - thank you. Susan Cain’s Quiet and Elaine Aron’s HSP books were genuinely two moments that changed my life and how I viewed myself and helped me move away from the thoughts - “why can’t I keep up with others my age!?” My HSP traits have made me a kind, caring and inspiring corporate leader but at huge personal cost - health, energy, burnout. I am beginning to step back and reassess what is next so reading this was timely. Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you Sinead for your kind words, I'm so glad they were so timely for you! Absolutely, we have so many incredible strengths that lead to being exceptional leaders, but taking care of ourselves and meeting our needs as HSP's is key. I hope this gives you some good inspiration for your next steps ☺️
It certainly does, thank you!
Me! I work in a lab so my with my line of work, I can’t not “people”. I always said my dream is to retire and live in a semi remote beach cottage.
Yes, I totally get that! Some jobs definitely come with unavoidable “people-ing” 😅 A semi-remote beach cottage sounds so dreamy though… peaceful, grounding, and totally HSP-approved. Here’s to moving closer to that dream, one step at a time ✨
I want to live in the middle of 10 acres and be completely sustained. If I could not people anymore that would be lovely.
Ha, I'm manifesting this peaceful hermit life for both of us 🌿
This is so well written! I always struggled with what was my issue and then i heard the term highly sensitive person. It’s changed my life to better see and understand myself. I just changed jobs from a 9-5 to a more flexible job in ministry and it is the perfect fit because of everything you said! Thank you for your work on this!
Thank you so much ☺️ It’s amazing how life-changing it is when we finally have the language to understand ourselves. I’m so happy to hear you’ve found a role that honours your nature - that kind of alignment is everything ❤️
Thank you for writing this. I recognise myself in this and it's equal parts reassuring and terrifying. I have done a good job balancing things at work so I have some self-employed, flexible time, but I'm still building that side of my business. I struggle with my part time 9-5. I am grateful it's a remote role, as there is no overstimulating office environment, but the rigid schedule and lack of control is very grating, not to mention the fact that I can't set my own salary and am being underpaid. It's frustrating feeling so much but I am grateful my work/life balance is manageable thus far. This piece has given me some more things to think about, thank you!
I am on the ‘other side’ already— left corporate life in 2016 to set up my own consultancy, and have been much happier since. No more burnout (after two episodes of ‘why can’t I handle this?’ at two different companies), my physical health has improved, I am doing only the parts of my previous career that I enjoy. All this was intuitive: a year ago I was ‘officially’ diagnosed as a HSP with ADHD. All the pieces fell into place.
Oh, the familarity! As a highly intuitive, sensitive empath I got to feel all that myself, and have watchd others fall into the same trap. It is certainly the system that society has created (people, men and women alike, over generations, passed down, conditioned, boundaries? Who do you think you are? We are all meant to be equal, the same, we must fight for it - Yeah sure!), into which people like us were born into but just don't fit in at al. We can sense when sth feels off from miles away because we are thin-boundaried people, and we need to establish boundaries for our overall well-being to be able to live in this ridged and conditioned world... not to be sucked in and spat out. But to stand in our own power as HSPs, sensitives, intuitives & empaths!
Yes, exactly this. You’ve articulated it so powerfully - the generational conditioning, the lack of boundaries, the pressure to conform… it’s exhausting for those of us who feel everything so deeply. We really weren’t built for the rigidity of this system. But you’re right - our sensitivity isn’t a flaw, it’s our power. The more we honour our energy and stand in that truth, the more we reshape the world around us. Thank you for sharing this - I’m so glad we’re not alone in this journey ❤️
Thank you for this post! I have been freelancing since the dawn of my professional career but I am contemplating entering a corporate environment due to the financial instability of freelancing. I do feel like I was meant to see this article, realizing that entering a 9-5 may be a tough environment for me. Freelancing brings about its own challenges as an HSP as well!
I’m so glad you saw this at the perfect time Jeanna ☺️ It sounds like you’re at a real crossroads, and I completely understand the pull between financial stability and the need for a work environment that truly supports your energy, I've been there. Freelancing definitely has its challenges (especially as an HSP!), but so does the corporate world - it really comes down to which challenges feel more manageable for you in the long run.
Whatever path you choose, know that you can find a way to create stability without sacrificing your well-being. Maybe there’s a way to bring more security into freelancing, or perhaps designing a portfolio style career where you can balance a part-time or contract role that could offer the best of both worlds? Trust yourself to know what’s right for you ✨ PS you might find this post helpful: https://rachelgadiel.substack.com/p/portfolio-career-highly-sensitive-people