Why Highly Sensitive People, Empaths, and INFJs Fear Their Own Power
My journey with power has been far from easy.
But then again, it never is.
Somehow, I thought that I was confident. But it was only in hindsight that I realised that it wasn’t entirely true.
Even though, I might have fooled myself and a few people, I struggled a lot with basic physical challenges like:
Setting boundaries
Saying NO to the things I didn’t want
Saying YES to the things I would love to pursue
Standing up for myself (I usually waited until it was way too late and then "door slammed them")
Having difficult conversations, etc.
Even though I pretended quite well, I had trouble adjusting to the conventional way this world is made and the usual ways that people interact.
The common, to the point of stereotype, introverted timidness comes mostly from the truth.
Highly Sensitive People, especially empaths have not fully claimed their physical aptitudes. In plain terms, they are mostly disconnected from their corporeal part of being. In their nature, they tend to avoid sources of intense energy that could overwhelm them. Because of how it feels in their bodies.
Even though these are different things, power, for sensitive folks falls too close to force, intensity, anger, being overpowered and overwhelmed. And they judge it as negative.
Power is big energy.
Most people like us never learned to contain intense emotions. And the most typical response to witnessing someone’s power is to avoid and withdraw.
Therefore, embodying their own power also scares them and feels "too much".
What we're more comfortable with, are lighter, etheric, intellectual energies.
Luckily, life is all about evolution. And for people like us, we get to soar higher than most when we learn to use sensitivity.
An introvert, loving, artistic, and intuitive can be all that. AND also be powerful, confident and assertive. They can go for what they want. They can set boundaries and speak up about what’s important. They can take action that makes a big impact. All these depend on the ability to hold power.
What changed in my own life, that allowed me to tap into this deeper source of power was:
1. Understanding the difference between power and force. This allowed me to choose myself.
2. Finding the capacity to contain my energy (embodiment).
As much as neither is easy, the latter requires more labour. The reason for it is that staying in discomfort feels… Well, not uncomfortable.
The real transformation happens when you can hold big charges of energy run through your body, without zoning out, when you can stay with the intensity.
Everyone, who is willing and determined can do it.
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In today’s episode, I’m discussing how this fear of power came to exist in us.