For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been the weakest one growing up, whether that was physically or emotionally. People typically believe that my inclination to cater to emotions rather than logic made me soft, fragile, or in other words, less than. As I grew, I began to think of my sensitivity as a weakness, and in turn, I began to suppress my empathy. Rather than making me feel aligned with my peers’ thought processes, I felt constantly lost, sad, and disconnected from myself and my body. Only recently have I begun to touch into that sensitivity I’ve hid for so long, and began to understand the divinity that there is in the simple act of feeling.
My emotions have always seemed to swallow me whole. Accidentally stepping on a bug or spotting roadkill on the side of the road was enough to bring me to tears most days. However, I’ve begun to realize that the art of noticing allows even the smallest, most “insignificant” commodities to be seen. Noticing, and I mean really noticing, opens up an entirely different world. It allowed me to put myself in others’ shoes, to get a glimpse into the hardships in others lives. This has helped me tremendously in cultivating and mending relationships. Sometimes, just understanding what someone else is going through can make a situation more clear, or even help an argument smooth over better. I may never fully understand what others are going through, but attempting to feel the same emotions that others do brings me closer to them and allows me to be more forgiving.Â
My predilection to react with my heart instead of my head has allowed me to shine in my everyday life. While thinking logistically isn’t my strong suit, my caring nature allows me to thrive in environments where I get to help others. For example, my genuine nature towards kids has connected me to them and their parents, leading to connections down the road, but also just positive and fulfilling memories in the moment. Showing kindness has provided me opportunities for promotions in my careers and provided me opportunities to better myself and my skills.Â
The ability to feel also curates creativity within. Sadness and despair, anger and confusion, or happiness and excitement can all be funneled into creative projects to further express and understand yourself. Whenever I feel an emotion taking over, I turn to a form of writing, like poetry, to further explore and convey those feelings. It turns those overwhelming sentiments into digestible and understandable aspects of my life. Tuning into my emotions connects my body and mind, and allows me to feel grounded and powerful.
Kindness, empathy, and sensitivity has never been a weakness, despite it recently being spun that way. Tears are a sign of growth; they are a sign of strength. The connection you gain to yourself and to others is sacred, and can help in multiple corners of your life, whether that is social or even academic. I encourage everyone to allow emotions to creep into your life, and to feel the power of their sensitivity.