| Long before I was seriously ill, I often had a | | | | easily overwhelmed by all that needs to be |
| sense that I felt emotions more deeply and | | | | accomplished, and by what they observe around |
| painfully than many of my friends and colleagues. | | | | them, and may feel a sense of despair when |
| Things seemed to roll off their backs, while I | | | | they consider things outside of their control. |
| became greatly affected in some way by what | | | | All of this is very demanding on the body. If |
| I'd seen or heard. | | | | these beliefs and behaviour patterns are at the |
| I easily picked up on how others were feeling, and | | | | root of our being - and are seen as a misfortune |
| their energies affected my own. I was forever | | | | - then every-day stress, or specific traumas will |
| concerned about what the people around me | | | | make a further impact, and inevitably, the body |
| were undergoing: had I said or done something to | | | | will shout out for change. In other words, stop |
| offend them, and what did that look they just | | | | functioning at its best in some way. |
| gave me actually mean? | | | | When working with clients who have presented |
| It was important for me to put others' needs | | | | these thoughts and feelings, the first aspect I |
| before my own. I felt uncomfortable if my needs | | | | usually address is how angry they are with |
| were met ahead of theirs, and I worried about | | | | themselves because they are "so sensitive" or |
| what they'd think of me. One of my strongest | | | | "so emotional". Reframing this, so that they start |
| convictions was that it was my responsibility to | | | | to recognise the miracle which underlies being |
| help, and even save, others. I remember as a | | | | sensitive, enables them to value their empathic |
| young girl my father saying, "You can't save the | | | | and intuitive abilities. |
| world!" and me thinking, "But I have to!" | | | | EFT can easily dissolve the limiting belief "It's |
| I always wished I could be a bit less emotional | | | | wrong to be this sensitive", and instead of |
| when discussing heartfelt matters; a little less | | | | someone asking, "What's wrong with me because |
| moved when watching movies, or listening to | | | | I feel this so deeply?", after using EFT, they'll be |
| accounts of bravery and courage; a bit more | | | | making the list "What's right with me for feeling |
| thick skinned when it came to making decisions. I | | | | this so deeply?" Dissolving the negative emotions |
| seemed to be so highly sensitive and it was far | | | | around who we are and what we feel leads the |
| from a blessing. What was wrong with me? | | | | way to forgiveness, and with forgiveness comes |
| Not only did EFT enable me to overcome Chronic | | | | physical healing. |
| Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), it also helped me | | | | The following EFT may be useful if you are |
| address all of these worries and self-criticisms. I | | | | reading this and noticing similarities in the way you |
| freed myself from the burden (as I believed it to | | | | think, feel and behave: |
| be) of being sensitive and began to see the | | | | Even though I'm angry with myself because I'm |
| positives, possibilities and full potential, which come | | | | so sensitive, for the moment I have decided to |
| from having this type of personality. | | | | accept myself anyway |
| Far from it being a 'burden', I was able to see | | | | Even though I wish I were more thick-skinned, |
| that I - and anyone who experienced similar | | | | and didn't get hurt so easily, I deserve to accept |
| beliefs and behaviour patterns - had a lot to offer. | | | | myself for being me |
| Highly sensitive people are extremely intuitive, | | | | Even though I've always thought being this |
| making them aware of what others are thinking | | | | sensitive was a weakness, what if it's actually a |
| and feeling. Their empathy enables them to be | | | | strength? |
| very understanding of someone's situation, and | | | | Top of head: I'm angry with myself because I |
| perceptive to their needs. All valuable traits when | | | | feel everything so deeply |
| working with other people. | | | | Eyebrow: Why am I so sensitive? |
| When I started working with clients who are | | | | Side of eye: I can feel what they're feeling |
| chronically ill, I became fascinated as I listened to | | | | Under eye: and I worry that I've hurt them in |
| the way they talked: their experiences; their | | | | some way |
| thoughts about themselves and the world; their | | | | Under nose: I seem to absorb everything |
| desire to make a difference in the world, yet | | | | Chin: and it's so tiring! |
| constantly feeling overwhelmed by the prospect, | | | | Collarbone: I feel so different |
| and how they consistently pushed themselves to | | | | Under arm: What's wrong with me? |
| be perfect. Often, they confessed they felt | | | | Top of head: Perhaps I could turn this around |
| different, and misunderstood, as though | | | | Eyebrow: and think about this from another |
| something was 'wrong' with them. | | | | perspective |
| Of course, I'm not suggesting that only clients | | | | Side of eye: It's good that I am capable of feeling |
| who were ill talked in this way to me, but I | | | | things this deeply |
| couldn't deny the correlation. I now believe that | | | | Under eye: It's right that I'm so aware of what |
| many people with a chronic illness have a highly | | | | others are thinking and feeling |
| sensitive personality, and healing the self-criticism | | | | Under nose: I can be helpful and supportive |
| sometimes caused by it, is paramount to healing | | | | Chin: I can make a difference |
| the symptoms of illness and pain. | | | | Collarbone: and I deserve to do this in a |
| From my experiences of working with chronically | | | | triumphant way |
| ill people for five years, I also believe highly | | | | Under arm: I choose to celebrate who I am and |
| sensitive people could well be more predisposed | | | | how I feel |
| to illness. The very essence of their nature is to | | | | Truly accepting who we are and how we are |
| be helpful to the point of putting themselves | | | | feeling is the first step to healing wounds, new |
| second. They are usually perfectionists, striving to | | | | and old. Reframing our perspective to allow us to |
| ensure everything in their life is just right; from | | | | see the gifts inherent in deep sensitivity frees |
| work projects, to family relations, to making sure | | | | those gifts to blossom. EFT can help us to do |
| their time is spent usefully. They can become | | | | both. |