Business Coach and Strategist for HSPs – Rose Cox

Tag: hsp trait

The Gentle Path to Online Success: Embracing Your True Nature as an HSP
Are you an HSP dreaming of building a successful online business? If so you’re in the right place! In this blog post, I’ll share the secret to turning your unique strengths into a powerful advantage in the online business world.

Being an HSP doesn’t mean you’re at a disadvantage in the business world. In fact, these qualities can be your superpowers when it comes to building an online business that aligns with your values and allows you to thrive.

While there are undoubtedly benefits to being an HSP there can also be challenges. We’ll explore both sides and provide strategies to help you leverage your strengths while navigating potential obstacles.

Understanding Your Unique Strengths

Let’s start by understanding what is means to be a highly sensitive person (HSP). Being an HSP means you have a heightened awareness and deep emotional connection with others. These qualities can bring immense value to your online business.

Your sensitivity allows you to connect deeply with your audience, fostering genuine relationships and trust. As an HSP, you have the ability to reflect and create meaningful content that can captivate and resonate with your ideal clients. This trait enables you to understand your client’s and customers’ needs on a profound level, leading to products and services that truly make a difference.

It’s essential to address the misconceptions and challenges often associated with these traits. Many believe that being sensitive, introverted, or empathic may hinder success in business. However, we’ll debunk these myths and provide insights to help you overcome any obstacles you may encounter.

Leveraging Your Strengths in Building Your Online Business

Embrace your sensitivity as an HSP to connect deeply with your audience

Learn to communicate authentically with your audience by understanding their needs and emotions. Use storytelling and empathy-driven marketing strategies to create a deeper connection that resonates with your target market.

As an HSP, it’s crucial to take care of your energy and set healthy boundaries.

Here are some tools and techniques to help you establish and maintain boundaries:
1. Self-awareness: Begin by understanding your own needs, emotions, and limits. Take note of situations or interactions that leave you feeling overwhelmed or drained. This self-awareness forms the foundation for establishing healthy boundaries.
2. Communicate assertively: Clearly and respectfully communicate your boundaries to others. Use “I” statements to express how certain behaviours or actions impact you. Practice assertiveness and stand firm in your needs, without apologising or feeling guilty.
3. Learn to say no: As HSPs, we often struggle with saying no due to our empathetic nature. It’s important to recognise your limits and decline requests or obligations that genuinely overwhelm you. Remember, saying no is not selfish; it’s an act of self-care.
4. Prioritise self-care: Make self-care a non-negotiable part of your routine. Dedicate time to recharge and engage in activities that nurture your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Prioritising self-care allows you to set boundaries around your personal time and energy.
5. Set limits on sensory input: HSPs can be easily overwhelmed by sensory stimuli. Be mindful of the environments and situations that trigger sensory overload. Establish boundaries around noise, light, social events, or even the amount of time spent on stimulating activities.
6. Take breaks when needed: Allow yourself regular breaks or moments of solitude to recharge. This could involve stepping away from social gatherings, taking short breaks during work, or integrating regular moments of stillness and reflection throughout your day.
Explore which tools and techniques help you manage overwhelm and create a balance between your business and personal life.

Harness the power of introversion in building a successful online business

Introverts excel at creating thoughtful, valuable content that resonates with their audience. Embrace your introverted nature by craft engaging content, and leverage online networking platforms that align with your strengths.

Discover marketing strategies that play to your introverted strengths, such as focusing on building relationships, leveraging word-of-mouth referrals, and using social media platforms where you can engage authentically.

Utilise empathy as an asset in creating products and services that resonate with your target audience

Your empathic nature allows you to deeply understand your customers’ pain points and desires. Use this insight to develop products and services that genuinely address their needs and create a meaningful impact.

By putting yourself in your customers’ shoes, you can anticipate their needs and create exceptional products. Additionally, provide outstanding customer support by empathising with their concerns and providing personalised solutions.

Overcoming Challenges and Finding Balance

While your unique strengths are powerful, it’s essential to be aware of the challenges you may face.

As an HSP, introvert, or empath, self-care is crucial to maintaining your energy levels. Discover effective strategies for managing your energy, avoiding burnout, and incorporating self-care practices into your daily routine.

Finding a balance between leveraging your strengths and adapting to the demands of the online business world is key.

Success Stories and Inspiration

Get inspired by real-life success stories of individuals who have harnessed their unique strengths as HSPs, introverts, or empaths to create thriving online businesses. Attend summits, listen to podcasts or read about successful HSPs online. Their stories will demonstrate the infinite possibilities and potential for success.

Learn from the experiences of these successful entrepreneurs as they share their lessons, challenges, and insights. Their journeys will offer valuable guidance and inspire you to embrace your unique strengths fully.

Remember, your unique strengths as an HSP, introvert, or empath hold incredible potential. Embrace your individuality and believe in the infinite possibilities that await you on your journey to building a successful online business.

Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.
~ Buddha

Conclusion

By embracing your unique strengths as an HSP, introvert, or empath, you can create an online business that is authentic, meaningful, and aligned with your values.

You have the power to leverage your innate qualities as an HSP, introvert, or empath to build a successful online business that not only brings you financial success but also fulfilment and joy.

Remember, personal growth is a lifelong journey. Embrace your individuality, continue to develop your strengths, and celebrate the incredible value you bring to the online business world. Your dream online business is within reach!

If you need guidance in building your dream online business, consider joining The HSP Business School. This is a self-study online program that might be just what you’ve been looking for! I’ve carefully crafted a roadmap that covers everything you need to grow and scale your business. Whether you’re starting from scratch and craving guidance, have an amazing idea but lack clarity on how to get started, or even if you’re an established business owner struggling to gain momentum, this program is designed with YOU in mind.

With six comprehensive modules, we delve into research, strategy, marketing & sales, offer creation, pricing, business operations, team development, planning, and so much more. As an added bonus, you’ll receive six RTT hypnosis recordings, meticulously designed to help you overcome subconscious beliefs or blocks hindering your progress.

Find out more about The HSP Business School here.
6 December 2023
Benefits of an HSP Community

Since discovering the HSP trait, I’ve noticed many benefits of being part of a global HSP community.

In the past few years, I’ve enjoyed connecting with fellow sensitives worldwide. Including interviewing over 70 HSPs for my summits and my podcast. Many of whom I have stayed connected with and become good friends.

I’ve also worked with other HSP business owners in various capacities. My 1:1 coach is an HSP, as well as my coach in a group coaching program I am part of.

I worked with a podcast content strategist, a brand and marketing strategist, a Human Design guide and more. All of whom are HSPs.

And the difference in working with these fellow HSPs to many non-HSPs I’ve worked with in the past has been huge. They really get me and understand where I’m coming from.

HSP Community Benefits

Having a community of highly sensitive people can have several benefits:

Mutual support and understanding

Highly sensitive people (HSPs) often feel misunderstood and alienated from mainstream society. By coming together as a community, HSPs can find support, validation, and understanding from others who share similar experiences and perspectives.

Exchange of ideas and knowledge

A community of HSPs can facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge about the trait of high sensitivity. Members can share information about coping strategies, resources, and research. We can collaborate on projects to raise awareness and promote the acceptance of HSPs.

Advocacy and activism

With a unified voice, HSPs can advocate for our rights and work to create a more inclusive and supportive society. We can raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by HSPs, and promote policies and practices that accommodate our needs as HSPs.

Personal growth and development

Being part of a community of like-minded individuals can help HSPs develop a stronger sense of self-awareness and self-acceptance. HSPs can benefit from the experiences of others by learning from them. We can gain new perspectives, receive feedback, and receive assistance as we face any challenges associated with being highly sensitive.

“The highly sensitive person has an important mission, which is to serve as a balance to the more aggressive behaviour of some of the non-HSPs who advocate a less than nurturing policy toward humans, animals, and Mother Nature.”

~ Ted Zeff

Final Thoughts

Overall, a community of highly sensitive people can foster a feeling of belonging and connectedness., facilitate personal growth and development, and promote greater awareness and acceptance of the trait of high sensitivity in society.

You can find HSP communities online through various social platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Circle, Mighty Networks, etc.

Many of these communities are free. If you’re an HSP in business, I invite you to join my free HSP community for – Thriving HSP Entrepreneurs.

3 March 2023
What is a Highly Sensitive Person?
Dr Elaine Aron coined the term ‘highly sensitive person’ in the 1990s. The scientific name is ‘sensory processing sensitivity’. Dr Aron has undertaken a lot of research around this trait along with many others including her husband Arthur Aron.

One in five people are highly sensitive, that is 20% of the population, or 1.4 billion!

Categories of the Highly Sensitive Person trait

In her book Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person, Dr Aron groups the HSP trait into four categories. She uses the acronym DOES.

This stands for:
- Depth of processing
- Overarousal
- Emotional intensity
- Sensory sensitivity
I will break these down using the guidelines that Dr Aron discusses in the above mentioned book.

Depth of processing

Depth of processing refers to how, as a highly sensitive person, we process information deeply.

We are deep thinkers and may question things like the meaning of life.

I remember well as a young child, gazing out my window at the starry nights. I grew up in a very small town in Southern Hawkes Bay of New Zealand where the stars were particularly vibrant. Unlike my mother and father who grew up in the UK in London and Birmingham respectively. Sadly their skies were filled with bombers and search lights.

I digress! Far different from the war filled skies in England, I would spend hours gazing at the stars, wondering where we came from. What other planets were out there. Other beings?

It used to fascinate me (and keep me awake all night!)

I used to feel so small and insignificant in a small town in the middle of a small country. Far from most other countries in the world. I even remember having the feeling that our planet was small in comparison to what else was out there.

Deep processing is also connected to our conscientiousness and our moral values. It refers to our inner knowing, gut feelings and deeper feelings of empathy for others and the world around us.

Depth of processing can affect decision making abilities. We like to ponder and reflect before making quick decisions. Once we do however, they are generally good decisions.

Overarousal

Overarousal, also referred to as ease of overstimulation, refers to our inability to cope with high levels of stimulation.

As indicated in a previous blog post Do you have the HSP trait, highly sensitive people process our five senses far more deeply than non-HSPs. We have way more paths of information coming into our brains. This results in overarousal which leads to nervousness, chronic stress, and anxiety if we have not yet mastered good coping strategies.

This overarousal can decrease our cognitive capacity which may lead to confusion, poor memory, or an inability to express ourselves clearly.

When good coping strategies are in place, this high stimulation has some wonderful gifts. Our senses are heightened therefore we are super observant of the beauty in the world around us. Delicate aromas, exquisite foods, fine art, the perfection of nature.

Emotional intensity

In Elaine Aron’s DOES acronym for highly sensitive people, emotional intensity refers to being deeply moved by certain situations and environments. We are full of compassion for those around us. Easily moved to tears of both joy and sadness.

We can be affected by violence on tv or in the media. Many HSPs tend to avoid movies or tv shows that involve violence, horror and too much action.

This side of the HSP is sentimental, thoughtful, caring and kind.

Sensory sensitivity

As mentioned in the Overarousal section above, HSPs have many more paths of information coming into our brains than non-HSPs. Our senses are often on high alert. We are super observant, often to the extent of ‘Sherlock Holmes’! We don’t miss a trick!

All of our senses can be heightened. Our sense of touch can be affected by scratchy clothes such as wool, tight-fitting clothes or even clothing labels which can easily irritate us.

We can be easily affected by loud noises such as loud machinery. Smelly fumes from trucks and cars. Bright lights such as fluorescents.

Electromagnetic fields can give us adverse reactions. Radio waves from mobile phones, microwaves, televisions can be of concern.

It is interesting to note, from Dr Aron’s book, that “many highly sensitive people report unusual experiences that can broadly be called psychic”.

This coincides beautifully with another book I’m currently reading – Letting Go by David R. Hawkins. He states “True psychics, of course, are merely people who are experts at intuition”.

You were born to be among the advisors and thinkers, the spiritual and moral leaders for your society. There is every reason for pride.

~ Elaine Aron

Final Thoughts

If you have taken the HSP Archetype Quiz on my website, you may have noticed that each of the four main archetypes – Akasha, Angel, Ariel and Artemis, are based on the DOES acronym by Dr Aron.

Although we will have many characteristics from each of the areas, some may be more pronounced than others and that is what the quiz is based on with the questions you are presented with.

Each has its amazing superpowers and I really encourage you to focus on these gifts and to find ways to manage those areas that require attention. I share self-care techniques that can help you in the emails when you signed up for the quiz.

Which of the four categories stands out most for you?

Disclaimer: By recommending books, this page contains affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and make a purchase I will receive a small commission.
12 April 2022
Do you have the HSP trait?

HSP is a trait that we are born with. It is genetic.

Also known as sensory processing sensitivity, the highly sensitive person trait makes up 15-20% of the population.

It is not gender specific, meaning an equal percentage of both women and men have this trait. It’s also found in over 100 animal species.

I know for sure that one of my kitty cats is an HSP or should that be an HSC? 😺

Interestingly HSPs are not just introverts. Thirty percent of HSPs are in fact 30% extroverts.

Although the trait has been around forever, it was Dr Elaine Aron who began researching it in 1991. Since then Dr Aron has written many books and scientific research papers to provide a more in-depth psychological understanding of this trait.

It began as a survival strategy that involves a special way of processing extra, subtle details allowing one to process information thoroughly before responding. While the other 80-85% of the population may tend more to rush into things, we process the five senses in a much deeper way.

Imagine that you have about three or four paths of information coming into your brain.

That is the experience of the majority of the population, but for highly sensitives, we have 50-100 paths of information coming into our brains.

That’s a lot of information for us to process.

This means we can be very intuitive and empathetic. It is also very similar to having a sixth sense.

As you can imagine, taking in so much information can often feel overwhelming and at times utterly exhausting. To be our best, we usually need more quiet, down time to process all that information.

You may have grown up being told you’re too sensitive, or shy, perhaps too quiet. You may have felt that you were different, that you didn’t fit in.

Sensitivity comes with so many gifts and I want you to discover the positives within you.

– Julie Bjelland

I hope by reading this post and learning that there are millions of us in the world (1.4 billion roughly!), you feel validated in how you feel and how you show up in the world.

You have so many wonderful gifts as a highly sensitive person and I really encourage you to embrace your gifts and honour yourself.

It truly is an amazing trait.

If I were to leave you with one piece of advice, it would be to surround yourself with other HSPs.

There are many wonderful communities that will welcome you with open arms.

If you’re not already a member of my free Facebook group, I’d love to invite you to join.

I’d also highly recommend the Sensitive Empowerment Community with Julie Bjelland. Not only are there many other HSPs it is packed full of tools and resources to help you flourish as someone with the HSP trait.

8 February 2022