So glad to hear your enriching podcasts again...I take inspiration re: softening and softness from my cat. He's got the softest belly, but as a cat, he also has claws! So softness can also come with fierceness and power in that sense. Cats also have that soft approach to time, as in, time to rest, stretch, be supple, and yes there's that wildness underneath.
I was also thinking about the contrast of 'soft' and 'hard' and a discussion on how we can be too hard on ourselves. This is a problem I have, that I am hard on myself, on my life, my schedules etc.
One more thing I don't know how to say this but...I have issues with the 'highly sensitive person' concept (no judgement on those who identify as that though). Not long ago I read a discussion about how that term 'highly sensitive person' or HSP is problematic, because the person who coined the term had an autistic child but kept denying their autism by saying that the child was just 'highly sensitive', even though the child needed help and counselling and a diagnosis, but she denied it and was against the idea that her child could be autistic at all, or something like that (sadly I cannot find the article but I might have the link somewhere.) So it is a loaded concept. I know that people can identify as sensitive or empathic and not be neurodivergent, and others might be diagnosed as autistic/ADHD etc, or some might be neurodivergent and not know it or are awaiting confirmation such as a diagnosis. There are spectrums of these things. But I thought I'd mention that, and I hope you don't take offence at this, because I love your work and writing.
It makes me think there are types of sensitivity-some might have a more intuitive sensitivity (a receptiveness) to things like emotions and moods-what I would call the 'watery' sensitivity that you allude to here and in other podcasts, a sensitivity I'd say is 'soft'. Others might have a highly strung type of sensitivity which can be uncomfortable, such as aversions to noises, the type of sensory processing issue which brings anxiety and stress and even anger-this to me comes off as a more 'electric' or 'fiery/airy' sensitivity, or a 'hard' type. I am more susceptible to the latter. It's not easy to soften those harder types of sensitivity or invite the softer, receptive types in...
No offence taken at all! You're speaking from valuable lived experience and we really appreciate your perspective as always :) I didn't know that about Elaine Aron, that's very interesting. Personally, both Eleanor and I really relate to the HSP concept, but I can totally understand why - in light of those insights - it doesn't sit right with you. As you've explored, it's a bit of a tangled web! I think you're absolutely right to draw out the different types and interpretations of sensitivity, that's really important. I see exactly what you mean with that distinction between the watery and the fiery manifestations, that's definitely enriched my thinking on the topic. Thank you! M x
So glad to hear your enriching podcasts again...I take inspiration re: softening and softness from my cat. He's got the softest belly, but as a cat, he also has claws! So softness can also come with fierceness and power in that sense. Cats also have that soft approach to time, as in, time to rest, stretch, be supple, and yes there's that wildness underneath.
I was also thinking about the contrast of 'soft' and 'hard' and a discussion on how we can be too hard on ourselves. This is a problem I have, that I am hard on myself, on my life, my schedules etc.
One more thing I don't know how to say this but...I have issues with the 'highly sensitive person' concept (no judgement on those who identify as that though). Not long ago I read a discussion about how that term 'highly sensitive person' or HSP is problematic, because the person who coined the term had an autistic child but kept denying their autism by saying that the child was just 'highly sensitive', even though the child needed help and counselling and a diagnosis, but she denied it and was against the idea that her child could be autistic at all, or something like that (sadly I cannot find the article but I might have the link somewhere.) So it is a loaded concept. I know that people can identify as sensitive or empathic and not be neurodivergent, and others might be diagnosed as autistic/ADHD etc, or some might be neurodivergent and not know it or are awaiting confirmation such as a diagnosis. There are spectrums of these things. But I thought I'd mention that, and I hope you don't take offence at this, because I love your work and writing.
It makes me think there are types of sensitivity-some might have a more intuitive sensitivity (a receptiveness) to things like emotions and moods-what I would call the 'watery' sensitivity that you allude to here and in other podcasts, a sensitivity I'd say is 'soft'. Others might have a highly strung type of sensitivity which can be uncomfortable, such as aversions to noises, the type of sensory processing issue which brings anxiety and stress and even anger-this to me comes off as a more 'electric' or 'fiery/airy' sensitivity, or a 'hard' type. I am more susceptible to the latter. It's not easy to soften those harder types of sensitivity or invite the softer, receptive types in...
No offence taken at all! You're speaking from valuable lived experience and we really appreciate your perspective as always :) I didn't know that about Elaine Aron, that's very interesting. Personally, both Eleanor and I really relate to the HSP concept, but I can totally understand why - in light of those insights - it doesn't sit right with you. As you've explored, it's a bit of a tangled web! I think you're absolutely right to draw out the different types and interpretations of sensitivity, that's really important. I see exactly what you mean with that distinction between the watery and the fiery manifestations, that's definitely enriched my thinking on the topic. Thank you! M x