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Welcome to the world behind, around and within the art. Read the thoughts, history and process behind each of these artworks. Learn about High Sensitivity and maybe get to know yourself better and/or better understand someone you hold dear. Contact me regarding any questions about High Sensitivity, the art or whatever else comes to mind.
More blogposts are on their way - so stay tuned.
It's lovely to have you here. I hope you enjoy as you go on.
GETTING THOSE D-VITAMINS
The weather is AMAZING today here in the Faroe Islands. The sun is shining and not one leaf is moving. I finished work early today, and walked home. Me and Dad took our lunch outside and ate in the sun. Afterwards I went with Lady to play ball in a nearby grass-field.
I felt like working out, but I just couldn’t make myself go inside to workout when the sun was finally shining. So I had an idea to get the best of both worlds. I was to put on very warm clothes, find a good place in the sun, and workout outside. So in 2*Celsius, wearing a beanie, mittens, warm sweater, thick, warm pants and shoes I finished my workout and enjoyed the sun.
It is so important for all of us to enjoy the sun, when it’s out - especially here in the northern countries where it’s actually dark for the bigger part of the day during winter. For us HSPs it is even more important to get as much sunlight as we can get, in these dark months. HSPs tend to get easily affected by the weather, and are prone to get winter depressions so we need all the D-vitamins available these days. I feel light and uplifted today, and it is because of the weather, and because I have made an effort to be in the sun and stock up on D-vitamins.
In her book “The Highly Sensitive Person - How To Thrive When The World Overwhelms You” Elaine talks about, how important it is for us HSPs to get the vitamins and minerals that we need - and it’s always best getting it from natural sources. So accept it when the opportunity presents itself so get those natural vitamins and minerals. Find a solution that makes it possible for you to be outside, if you feel like that’s what you need, or make use of the daylight to accomplish something indoors that craves good lighting.
Another tip for getting those natural minerals is ocean-bathing.
(Almost) Everything is possible if you want to - also working out outside in 2*Celsius weather ;)
I felt like working out, but I just couldn’t make myself go inside to workout when the sun was finally shining. So I had an idea to get the best of both worlds. I was to put on very warm clothes, find a good place in the sun, and workout outside. So in 2*Celsius, wearing a beanie, mittens, warm sweater, thick, warm pants and shoes I finished my workout and enjoyed the sun.
It is so important for all of us to enjoy the sun, when it’s out - especially here in the northern countries where it’s actually dark for the bigger part of the day during winter. For us HSPs it is even more important to get as much sunlight as we can get, in these dark months. HSPs tend to get easily affected by the weather, and are prone to get winter depressions so we need all the D-vitamins available these days. I feel light and uplifted today, and it is because of the weather, and because I have made an effort to be in the sun and stock up on D-vitamins.
In her book “The Highly Sensitive Person - How To Thrive When The World Overwhelms You” Elaine talks about, how important it is for us HSPs to get the vitamins and minerals that we need - and it’s always best getting it from natural sources. So accept it when the opportunity presents itself so get those natural vitamins and minerals. Find a solution that makes it possible for you to be outside, if you feel like that’s what you need, or make use of the daylight to accomplish something indoors that craves good lighting.
Another tip for getting those natural minerals is ocean-bathing.
(Almost) Everything is possible if you want to - also working out outside in 2*Celsius weather ;)
Self Care for HSPs
1. Get Enough Sleep
Make sure to get 8 hours of sleep for more than two nights in a row. This is good advice for everyone, but if you are Highly Sensitive, you most likely need more sleep than others - this is because of your nervous system always running on full speed, and thus it is easier for you to burn out emotionally. Sleep de-stresses and rejuvenates our nervous system and increases our energy, so that we can function better throughout the day.
2. Listen to Your Body
Make a point out of checking up on your body and emotions throughout the day. Be aware of when you start reacting negatively or start feeling overwhelmed. When these feelings START (not when they have had the chance to snowball!), take some time to recharge. If you have the time, go be by yourself, even if it is as simple as excusing yourself from work and the bussing from your office/workspace for 5 minutes to take a quick stroll, get some fresh air and clear your head.
3. Make Friends With Fellow HSPs
Finding people, who have sympathy with you and understand your needs, is a treasure - especially for Highly Sensitive People, who often feel very misunderstood because of the sensitivity and particular way of seeing the world.
4. Disappear Into a Book
Make yourself comfortable on the couch, and let the magical power of a good book take you away from reality for a while.
5. Be Creative
Even if it’s not “great” art. Even if you can’t draw/paint/write anything that makes sense. Try it and have fun. Some people splatter random colors on a canvas and it feels like therapy for them. Others write random words and sentences that are grammatically incorrect and inconsistent, and it’s therapy for them.
6. Take a Bath
Fill the bathtub with crystals, bath-salts and surround yourself with candles. Or something completely different - create an atmosphere in which you can relax.
7. Drink Some Tea
This can be a help if you have trouble falling a sleep, or staying a sleep. Make some “sleep-tea”. It can for example be tea with lemon, lavender, jasmine or rose pedals. There are other combinations as well which can help you sleep better - find some on the internet.
8. Write
Writing is very beneficial and de-stressing for those of us, who have a very full mind - even if it means writing a long text or keeping a diary, thought-book, emotion-book … do what makes you relax and empty your mind.
9. Hug Your Dog
… or cat, bunny, horse … Animals provide a loving relationship and don’t demand much in return. When you feel stressed: Hug your pet and receive their unconditional love.
10. Eat Chocolate (And Don’t Feel Bad About It)
Chocolate is full of antioxidants and creates a strong, positive sensory experience for HSPs.
11. Clean
If you don’t feel relaxed, when you get home, take a look at your surroundings and change whatever makes you feel stressed. Clean your fridge or maybe the kitchen and embrace the minimalism.
12. Make a Point Out of Breathing
Learn to breath deeply and with a purpose. Listen to your breathing. Breath in and breath out with intention.
13. Go For a Walk
Take a walk everyday (maybe multiple times a day), in rain, hail and sun. Walking (especially in nature) helps you clean your thoughts and it inspires creativity. Why not go for a walk in your neighborhood or go for a hike in the mountains?
14. Take Yourself Out on a Date
Don’t be afraid to go to the movies alone. Or going on art exhibitions, libraries or museums alone. This gives you the possibility to use the time that you need, to fully take in, what interests you and sparks your creativity. The possibilities are endless, but the point is for you to take yourself somewhere YOU want to go, and doing something YOU want to do.
15. Listen to Music
Music is a remedy, increases well-being and it is scientifically proven that music lessens anxiety and pain. Always keep headphones in your pocket, so that you can turn on some calming music, when you feel overwhelmed.
16. Don’t Be in Unhealthy Environments
Being kind and being a doormat are two different things. Many HSPs fall into the category of becoming doormats especially when we’re not completely mentally healthy. Because of out tendency of “people-pleasing” be often do whatever others want us to do. Learn to be strong in yourself and not letting people use you as a doormat. Remove yourself from unhealthy environments - f.ex. people who aren’t a good influence on you. Every time you do this it is an act of self care.
17. Exercise
It is not necessary to exercise hard or even every day, but turn on some music and get moving. It doesn’t have to be a specific kind of exercise, but do whatever you like - go to the gym, use a hula hoop, go rollerskating, do some yoga etc.
18. Sign out from Social Networks
Social network doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but the truth is that it often has a negative affect on us, when we scroll down the time line and read what other people post. It is like looking at a false advertisement of other people’s lives - shiny and glimmering, shown from their best side, and it makes you feel, like you are the only one who’s struggling.
A detox from social media can certainly be self care.
19. Travel
Sometimes you feel stuck in the same track. Traveling or even just changing the scenery can make a huge difference. Just a short trip away from normal life can give you a completely new and improved understanding of life and it can improve your mental health.
20. Exercise Authenticity
Know your values and respect your boundaries. Don’t go looking for validation from others, but find it inside of yourself. Create habits and rituals that boost your confidence and strength - even if other people can’t see why you are doing it. Do whatever works for YOU. Quit being your own worst enemy and start being kind to yourself - with patience and mercy. This all demands that you make a true effort, but it is worth it.
Make sure to get 8 hours of sleep for more than two nights in a row. This is good advice for everyone, but if you are Highly Sensitive, you most likely need more sleep than others - this is because of your nervous system always running on full speed, and thus it is easier for you to burn out emotionally. Sleep de-stresses and rejuvenates our nervous system and increases our energy, so that we can function better throughout the day.
2. Listen to Your Body
Make a point out of checking up on your body and emotions throughout the day. Be aware of when you start reacting negatively or start feeling overwhelmed. When these feelings START (not when they have had the chance to snowball!), take some time to recharge. If you have the time, go be by yourself, even if it is as simple as excusing yourself from work and the bussing from your office/workspace for 5 minutes to take a quick stroll, get some fresh air and clear your head.
3. Make Friends With Fellow HSPs
Finding people, who have sympathy with you and understand your needs, is a treasure - especially for Highly Sensitive People, who often feel very misunderstood because of the sensitivity and particular way of seeing the world.
4. Disappear Into a Book
Make yourself comfortable on the couch, and let the magical power of a good book take you away from reality for a while.
5. Be Creative
Even if it’s not “great” art. Even if you can’t draw/paint/write anything that makes sense. Try it and have fun. Some people splatter random colors on a canvas and it feels like therapy for them. Others write random words and sentences that are grammatically incorrect and inconsistent, and it’s therapy for them.
6. Take a Bath
Fill the bathtub with crystals, bath-salts and surround yourself with candles. Or something completely different - create an atmosphere in which you can relax.
7. Drink Some Tea
This can be a help if you have trouble falling a sleep, or staying a sleep. Make some “sleep-tea”. It can for example be tea with lemon, lavender, jasmine or rose pedals. There are other combinations as well which can help you sleep better - find some on the internet.
8. Write
Writing is very beneficial and de-stressing for those of us, who have a very full mind - even if it means writing a long text or keeping a diary, thought-book, emotion-book … do what makes you relax and empty your mind.
9. Hug Your Dog
… or cat, bunny, horse … Animals provide a loving relationship and don’t demand much in return. When you feel stressed: Hug your pet and receive their unconditional love.
10. Eat Chocolate (And Don’t Feel Bad About It)
Chocolate is full of antioxidants and creates a strong, positive sensory experience for HSPs.
11. Clean
If you don’t feel relaxed, when you get home, take a look at your surroundings and change whatever makes you feel stressed. Clean your fridge or maybe the kitchen and embrace the minimalism.
12. Make a Point Out of Breathing
Learn to breath deeply and with a purpose. Listen to your breathing. Breath in and breath out with intention.
13. Go For a Walk
Take a walk everyday (maybe multiple times a day), in rain, hail and sun. Walking (especially in nature) helps you clean your thoughts and it inspires creativity. Why not go for a walk in your neighborhood or go for a hike in the mountains?
14. Take Yourself Out on a Date
Don’t be afraid to go to the movies alone. Or going on art exhibitions, libraries or museums alone. This gives you the possibility to use the time that you need, to fully take in, what interests you and sparks your creativity. The possibilities are endless, but the point is for you to take yourself somewhere YOU want to go, and doing something YOU want to do.
15. Listen to Music
Music is a remedy, increases well-being and it is scientifically proven that music lessens anxiety and pain. Always keep headphones in your pocket, so that you can turn on some calming music, when you feel overwhelmed.
16. Don’t Be in Unhealthy Environments
Being kind and being a doormat are two different things. Many HSPs fall into the category of becoming doormats especially when we’re not completely mentally healthy. Because of out tendency of “people-pleasing” be often do whatever others want us to do. Learn to be strong in yourself and not letting people use you as a doormat. Remove yourself from unhealthy environments - f.ex. people who aren’t a good influence on you. Every time you do this it is an act of self care.
17. Exercise
It is not necessary to exercise hard or even every day, but turn on some music and get moving. It doesn’t have to be a specific kind of exercise, but do whatever you like - go to the gym, use a hula hoop, go rollerskating, do some yoga etc.
18. Sign out from Social Networks
Social network doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but the truth is that it often has a negative affect on us, when we scroll down the time line and read what other people post. It is like looking at a false advertisement of other people’s lives - shiny and glimmering, shown from their best side, and it makes you feel, like you are the only one who’s struggling.
A detox from social media can certainly be self care.
19. Travel
Sometimes you feel stuck in the same track. Traveling or even just changing the scenery can make a huge difference. Just a short trip away from normal life can give you a completely new and improved understanding of life and it can improve your mental health.
20. Exercise Authenticity
Know your values and respect your boundaries. Don’t go looking for validation from others, but find it inside of yourself. Create habits and rituals that boost your confidence and strength - even if other people can’t see why you are doing it. Do whatever works for YOU. Quit being your own worst enemy and start being kind to yourself - with patience and mercy. This all demands that you make a true effort, but it is worth it.
TANGLE
Facts and How to Thrive as Highly Sensitive
3 things HSPs want you to know:
We feel things very deeply, but might hide away our emotions, because we have learned to retract.
We can seem uneasy in social gatherings such as work-events or at parties. This is because at such events there is just too much stimulation like f.ex. loud noises, different smells etc. This does not mean that we don’t value relationships.
When we enter into a new relationship like a friendship or romantic relationship, we tend to seek validation multiple times, because we are overly aware of all the signs we can catch up on that seem like rejection from the other person.
This is how you thrive as an HSP:
Get to know your emotions. Remember that unhappy feelings such as anxiety, grief and feeling overwhelmed are only temporary. Handle stress by exercising regularly, sleep well and have deep, meaningful conversations with your friends, family, spouse or a therapist - just make sure it is someone you trust.
Let your friends, co-workers and family members know that you get overwhelmed by certain situations and circumstances. Tell them how you handle such situations: “I am overwhelmed by bright lights, so don’t be afraid or think that I am sad if I leave the room for a while.”
Start exercising “self-sympathy”. Do this by filling yourself with goodness and gratefulness instead of self-criticizing. Do this as an exercise routine for your mind, just as you would to a fitness routine. Write some points down, and make sure to everyday - or almost everyday - tell yourself these things. The routine could be:
I am good enough
I am capable
I am beautiful
I am not too sensitive
My sensitivity is a strength
I have a wonderful husband, whom I love and am grateful for.
I have a fantastic family who respects me and tries to understand.
3 things HSPs want you to know:
We feel things very deeply, but might hide away our emotions, because we have learned to retract.
We can seem uneasy in social gatherings such as work-events or at parties. This is because at such events there is just too much stimulation like f.ex. loud noises, different smells etc. This does not mean that we don’t value relationships.
When we enter into a new relationship like a friendship or romantic relationship, we tend to seek validation multiple times, because we are overly aware of all the signs we can catch up on that seem like rejection from the other person.
This is how you thrive as an HSP:
Get to know your emotions. Remember that unhappy feelings such as anxiety, grief and feeling overwhelmed are only temporary. Handle stress by exercising regularly, sleep well and have deep, meaningful conversations with your friends, family, spouse or a therapist - just make sure it is someone you trust.
Let your friends, co-workers and family members know that you get overwhelmed by certain situations and circumstances. Tell them how you handle such situations: “I am overwhelmed by bright lights, so don’t be afraid or think that I am sad if I leave the room for a while.”
Start exercising “self-sympathy”. Do this by filling yourself with goodness and gratefulness instead of self-criticizing. Do this as an exercise routine for your mind, just as you would to a fitness routine. Write some points down, and make sure to everyday - or almost everyday - tell yourself these things. The routine could be:
I am good enough
I am capable
I am beautiful
I am not too sensitive
My sensitivity is a strength
I have a wonderful husband, whom I love and am grateful for.
I have a fantastic family who respects me and tries to understand.
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
I’ve been putting off posting this painting for the past few days. I didn’t know whether I should dare show it to people or just hide it away.
I am in no way satisfied with the outcome of this painting. It is my first ever one-line-drawing, and this is so far from my original intention when I made the background. I think she looks weird, crooked and imperfect. Not at all as I would have wanted.
But I feel it very important for me to post it after all. This is a reminder - to myself and all of you perfectionists out there - a reminder of the fact that sometimes it just doesn’t go as planned - and that’s OK!
It is very hard for me to accept when it doesn’t go as I originally had envisioned, but I try to teach myself to let it go and don’t pull myself down, for not having done as good a job as I wanted.
This is actually a common trait for HSPs: to be perfectionists and being very hard on ourselves, when we do something and try to accomplish something specific.
I have called this painting “Sleepless Nights”. The painting is inspired by the countless nights when I have lain awake because of thoughts rushing around in my head. Thoughts which have taken up so much energy and room that I haven’t been able to find peace.
I know there are many HSPs who know how this feels. This most often happens when I haven’t had enough time to recharge and process all of the impressions from the day. This can also happen if I have been in a situation which has evoked a specifically vivid emotion in me - it can be happiness, sadness, pain, shame, to be emotionally moved etc.
This is very common for HSPs. Strong emotions, experiences and deep thoughts attach and we can relive a situation many times, when the experience has evoked something strong inside of us. And we can relive the situation in extremely many and precise details.
I am in no way satisfied with the outcome of this painting. It is my first ever one-line-drawing, and this is so far from my original intention when I made the background. I think she looks weird, crooked and imperfect. Not at all as I would have wanted.
But I feel it very important for me to post it after all. This is a reminder - to myself and all of you perfectionists out there - a reminder of the fact that sometimes it just doesn’t go as planned - and that’s OK!
It is very hard for me to accept when it doesn’t go as I originally had envisioned, but I try to teach myself to let it go and don’t pull myself down, for not having done as good a job as I wanted.
This is actually a common trait for HSPs: to be perfectionists and being very hard on ourselves, when we do something and try to accomplish something specific.
I have called this painting “Sleepless Nights”. The painting is inspired by the countless nights when I have lain awake because of thoughts rushing around in my head. Thoughts which have taken up so much energy and room that I haven’t been able to find peace.
I know there are many HSPs who know how this feels. This most often happens when I haven’t had enough time to recharge and process all of the impressions from the day. This can also happen if I have been in a situation which has evoked a specifically vivid emotion in me - it can be happiness, sadness, pain, shame, to be emotionally moved etc.
This is very common for HSPs. Strong emotions, experiences and deep thoughts attach and we can relive a situation many times, when the experience has evoked something strong inside of us. And we can relive the situation in extremely many and precise details.
IN THE CROWD
As a Highly Sensitive Person it can get tough being around many people. All the impressions that I get - the smells, sounds, people, facial expressions, atmosphere, even the clothes I’m wearing - all of this gets absorbed and enters my mind to be processed, researched and to simmer.
When I am around many people I often find myself escaping into my own shell. I find myself wanting to retract - so that no one can see me … so that no one expects a smile and some small talk - because it feels like there’s no more space in my head.
It’s not because I don’t want to talk, smile and look, but when I have absorbed such a large amount of impressions, it feels like my head is overflowing with all kinds of (useless) information, which prohibits me from thinking such basic thoughts as: “What to say after: “Hi, nice to see you”?”
In stead thoughts are soaring and rushing around in my head. Thoughts like: “What color lipstick this woman is wearing; how my shirt is giving me an itch on my right side; how that girl said “hey”; how the shirt is itchy; the atmosphere in the room; the mood between the couple in the corner of the room; why is it so warm in here? … or is it just me?; itchy … itchy..!!; my pants are a little too loose around the waist; something in my shoes is touching the bone on the inside of my foot; why am I always so warm when I am at gatherings like these?; this shirt is itchy!; why did I wear this shirt?!
Weird? I know …
But this is how my brain works. I can control it .. to a certain point .. because I have learned by trying and learning to know, where my boundaries are. But all of a sudden it can all become too much, this is when a couple of - longer than needed . bathroom breaks are like sent from heaven.
These paintings are inspired by these thoughts as a reminder to not forget to breath. When we feel overwhelmed by impressions, we have to learn to retract in order for us to get a couple of minutes to take a deep breath and clear our head.
And remember: it is not only women who are highly sensitive.
50% men and 50% women.
When I am around many people I often find myself escaping into my own shell. I find myself wanting to retract - so that no one can see me … so that no one expects a smile and some small talk - because it feels like there’s no more space in my head.
It’s not because I don’t want to talk, smile and look, but when I have absorbed such a large amount of impressions, it feels like my head is overflowing with all kinds of (useless) information, which prohibits me from thinking such basic thoughts as: “What to say after: “Hi, nice to see you”?”
In stead thoughts are soaring and rushing around in my head. Thoughts like: “What color lipstick this woman is wearing; how my shirt is giving me an itch on my right side; how that girl said “hey”; how the shirt is itchy; the atmosphere in the room; the mood between the couple in the corner of the room; why is it so warm in here? … or is it just me?; itchy … itchy..!!; my pants are a little too loose around the waist; something in my shoes is touching the bone on the inside of my foot; why am I always so warm when I am at gatherings like these?; this shirt is itchy!; why did I wear this shirt?!
Weird? I know …
But this is how my brain works. I can control it .. to a certain point .. because I have learned by trying and learning to know, where my boundaries are. But all of a sudden it can all become too much, this is when a couple of - longer than needed . bathroom breaks are like sent from heaven.
These paintings are inspired by these thoughts as a reminder to not forget to breath. When we feel overwhelmed by impressions, we have to learn to retract in order for us to get a couple of minutes to take a deep breath and clear our head.
And remember: it is not only women who are highly sensitive.
50% men and 50% women.
FLOOD
Did you know?:
That introversion and extroversion are defined by, how and where you gain energy - either in a quiet place or with stimuli from the outside? High sensitivity is defined by, how much information you absorb from your surroundings and circumstances - no matter what you do.
People tend to think that it is only introverts, who are highly sensitive. This is not true. Research has shown that 30% are extroverts and 70% are introverts who are part of the 15-20% highly sensitive people in the world.
That introversion and extroversion are defined by, how and where you gain energy - either in a quiet place or with stimuli from the outside? High sensitivity is defined by, how much information you absorb from your surroundings and circumstances - no matter what you do.
People tend to think that it is only introverts, who are highly sensitive. This is not true. Research has shown that 30% are extroverts and 70% are introverts who are part of the 15-20% highly sensitive people in the world.
INSOMNIA
4 reasons why highly sensitive people have trouble sleeping:
- We process things deeper than other people. This means that is it easy for our brain to be kept awake because of our thinking through the happenings from the day.
- We are easily affected and stimulated by input. This means that something as small as a snore or even the feelings of the person sleeping next to us, can disturb our nervous system and prevent us from falling asleep.
- If you are highly emotionally reactive, it means that your nervous system is more easily disturbed than other people’s and thus you find it harder to find peace within yourself.
- If you have sensory sensitivity there is a big possibility that you have “absurd” needs, when it comes to the place where you sleep. You need the right temperature, right amount of darkness, right amount of silence etc.
- We process things deeper than other people. This means that is it easy for our brain to be kept awake because of our thinking through the happenings from the day.
- We are easily affected and stimulated by input. This means that something as small as a snore or even the feelings of the person sleeping next to us, can disturb our nervous system and prevent us from falling asleep.
- If you are highly emotionally reactive, it means that your nervous system is more easily disturbed than other people’s and thus you find it harder to find peace within yourself.
- If you have sensory sensitivity there is a big possibility that you have “absurd” needs, when it comes to the place where you sleep. You need the right temperature, right amount of darkness, right amount of silence etc.
SHADOW FIGURE
I had a talk with a dear friend of mine. We are both highly sensitive, and have spoken at length about, how it is to be highly sensitive. It is so precious to have friends who understand, what you go through. This evening we talked about how many highly sensitive people are very intuitive and because of this we often can feel or just know if something is off.
One can say that this is a strength, but it can definitely also be a burden. When you unintentionally study, investigate and process others, you are soon to find something that you want to shield yourself from. Because of this fact that many of us are intuitive and therefore also detail-oriented we can catch on to the smallest hint of something being off in a person, which can lead to us shutting down – a little bit. This doesn’t mean that we are unpolite – by nature a highly sensitive person is very polite – but we enter more of a “people-pleasing-mode” than a “friend-making-mode,” because if feels to risky to let the other person in.
The problem is that because we are very fast to catch on to something, many of us tend to shut down too fast – I am guilty of this – which results in us not gaining a good and deep friendship with people, with whom we probably would have matched with perfectly, if we just gave them more time, and they gave us more time.
Highly sensitive people feel a deep longing for deep, good, trusting and meaningful friendships, but because of this tendency it can be very hard for some of us to grant other people the time to create such a friendship. The people we talk to probably sense it as well that we are in a “people-pleasing-mode” which can lead to them not wanting to give us the chance to show them, who we really are.
I have named this series of paintings: “Shadow Figure” because I want to show how other people often only get to see us highly sensitive people in shadows, and you only get to see specific shadows. When we go into defense mode and start “people-pleasing” instead of “friend-making”, we are not giving you the chance to get to know us. But it is not because, we don’t want you as a friend, we just need more time to get to know you. We need to know that we can trust you, before we are able to open up to you, and show you, who we really are.
I have often been told how boring I am and that I never show up to social gatherings etc. I now that this often is the case and I totally understand, why people think this, but those who know me; those who have given me the needed time, and whom I have given the time, know that I also like to be silly, do stupid things and make a fool of myself. But I do these things with the people who I really know that I can trust.
For you guys, who know someone Highly Sensitive: Give them time – don’t give up on them.
For you fellow highly sensitive people: Don’t shut down “for good” too fast – give them a chance.
One can say that this is a strength, but it can definitely also be a burden. When you unintentionally study, investigate and process others, you are soon to find something that you want to shield yourself from. Because of this fact that many of us are intuitive and therefore also detail-oriented we can catch on to the smallest hint of something being off in a person, which can lead to us shutting down – a little bit. This doesn’t mean that we are unpolite – by nature a highly sensitive person is very polite – but we enter more of a “people-pleasing-mode” than a “friend-making-mode,” because if feels to risky to let the other person in.
The problem is that because we are very fast to catch on to something, many of us tend to shut down too fast – I am guilty of this – which results in us not gaining a good and deep friendship with people, with whom we probably would have matched with perfectly, if we just gave them more time, and they gave us more time.
Highly sensitive people feel a deep longing for deep, good, trusting and meaningful friendships, but because of this tendency it can be very hard for some of us to grant other people the time to create such a friendship. The people we talk to probably sense it as well that we are in a “people-pleasing-mode” which can lead to them not wanting to give us the chance to show them, who we really are.
I have named this series of paintings: “Shadow Figure” because I want to show how other people often only get to see us highly sensitive people in shadows, and you only get to see specific shadows. When we go into defense mode and start “people-pleasing” instead of “friend-making”, we are not giving you the chance to get to know us. But it is not because, we don’t want you as a friend, we just need more time to get to know you. We need to know that we can trust you, before we are able to open up to you, and show you, who we really are.
I have often been told how boring I am and that I never show up to social gatherings etc. I now that this often is the case and I totally understand, why people think this, but those who know me; those who have given me the needed time, and whom I have given the time, know that I also like to be silly, do stupid things and make a fool of myself. But I do these things with the people who I really know that I can trust.
For you guys, who know someone Highly Sensitive: Give them time – don’t give up on them.
For you fellow highly sensitive people: Don’t shut down “for good” too fast – give them a chance.
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE
In 2018 I started going to a psychologist and found out that I am highly sensitive. One of the first things the psychologist said was: “The truth will set you free” as Jesus says in John 8:32. We talked about how I often said and thought foul things of my myself, and about how demolishing and damaging it is. I was imprisoned in my own head which was full of utterly destroying thoughts. This is when my psychologist said this to me: that when I let Yahweh fill me with the truth, the truth which He said about me that is when I could be set free. Instead of filling myself with affects from the outside and the destroying thoughts inside of me, I needed to be filled with the things Yahweh says and thinks of me – what He says is the ultimate truth, because He has made me and knitted me together in my mother’s womb. He formed me, just as He wanted me to be, and gave me the gifts that He wanted me to use to make Him known here on Earth. I am a member of the body of Christ; a member just as important as all the other members – all of us cannot do the same things, but we are all important, loved, and created to use the talents we have been gifted.
This painting is made from these thoughts. I have made a girl, who is crouching – she doesn’t look truly free – but she is not completely crouched, because she has lifted up her head. The girl symbolizes to be imprisoned in your own head. The damaging thoughts have made her fall deeper and deeper into herself. But she has lifted her head, which shows that she is about to be set free. She has started to let Yahweh set her free with His truth.
The patterns above her symbolize her inner life – the thoughts that have captured her. The patterns don’t touch her, but they still are a huge part of the whole picture. This symbolizes her thoughts, which are a major part of the person she is. The destroying thoughts will never fully have vanished, but she can choose to change her inner life to something good and beautiful, and let Yahweh use her, and what she has experienced.
I know there are many girls and boys with me, who have been in this same situation. To all of us, I just want to say: Even if we think that we are not good enough, pretty enough, cool enough … it is not true! Even if others bad-mouth us, it doesn’t automatically make what they say true about us. The things other people say behind our backs, the things we say behind other people’s backs, the things we say about ourselves will never be the right, perfect definition of, who we are. The truth is this: as humans we will never be capable to fathom, how deeply we are loved, how wonderfully we are created, and which incredible gifts we have been given. But through spending time with Yahweh and in His word we can begin to understand this unfathomable love that He has for us – this is what defines us as human beings.
Psalm 139:13-18:
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
This painting is made from these thoughts. I have made a girl, who is crouching – she doesn’t look truly free – but she is not completely crouched, because she has lifted up her head. The girl symbolizes to be imprisoned in your own head. The damaging thoughts have made her fall deeper and deeper into herself. But she has lifted her head, which shows that she is about to be set free. She has started to let Yahweh set her free with His truth.
The patterns above her symbolize her inner life – the thoughts that have captured her. The patterns don’t touch her, but they still are a huge part of the whole picture. This symbolizes her thoughts, which are a major part of the person she is. The destroying thoughts will never fully have vanished, but she can choose to change her inner life to something good and beautiful, and let Yahweh use her, and what she has experienced.
I know there are many girls and boys with me, who have been in this same situation. To all of us, I just want to say: Even if we think that we are not good enough, pretty enough, cool enough … it is not true! Even if others bad-mouth us, it doesn’t automatically make what they say true about us. The things other people say behind our backs, the things we say behind other people’s backs, the things we say about ourselves will never be the right, perfect definition of, who we are. The truth is this: as humans we will never be capable to fathom, how deeply we are loved, how wonderfully we are created, and which incredible gifts we have been given. But through spending time with Yahweh and in His word we can begin to understand this unfathomable love that He has for us – this is what defines us as human beings.
Psalm 139:13-18:
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
OH AFFLICTED ONE
O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,
behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your pinnacles of agate,
your gates of carbuncles,
and all your wall of precious stones.
This passage in Isaiah 54 has been so precious to me the past few years. I found this chapter one Saturday-night when I was at a youth-meeting in church about 5 years ago. I had read this chapter before, but it had never had any real effect on me before this particular night. Yahweh opened up my heart and made me see how full of love and how beautiful this chapter is. Me, who has always struggled with wondering wether I’m good enough, worth of love, if I’m capable of anything, if I can be used anywhere saw in this chapter, how much Yahweh loves me.
I felt like the afflicted one, which storm had tossed – storms of destroying thoughts, no comfort to be found. I didn’t feel worthy of being used for anything bigger than me, but Yahweh showed me clearly: “I will set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your pinnacles of agate,
your gates of carbuncles,
and all your wall of precious stones.”
I am worthy, so much worthy that the Lord wants to build me up of precious stones, he wants to lay my foundations with sapphires, so that I can use the gifts which He has given to me.
I am worthy of love because He says so.
You are worthy of love because He says so.
He wants to build you up with precious stones and give you comfort.
This painting is made from this passage in Isaiah 54. When I find that I am destroying myself with bad thoughts I return to this chapter and remind myself of how deeply I am loved.
Isaiah 54:10-17:
"For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
“O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,
behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your pinnacles of agate,
your gates of carbuncles,
and all your wall of precious stones.
All your children shall be taught by the LORD,
and great shall be the peace of your children.
In righteousness you shall be established;
you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
If anyone stirs up strife,
it is not from me;
whoever stirs up strife with you
shall fall because of you.
Behold, I have created the smith
who blows the fire of coals
and produces a weapon for its purpose.
I have also created the ravager to destroy;
no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD
and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”
behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your pinnacles of agate,
your gates of carbuncles,
and all your wall of precious stones.
This passage in Isaiah 54 has been so precious to me the past few years. I found this chapter one Saturday-night when I was at a youth-meeting in church about 5 years ago. I had read this chapter before, but it had never had any real effect on me before this particular night. Yahweh opened up my heart and made me see how full of love and how beautiful this chapter is. Me, who has always struggled with wondering wether I’m good enough, worth of love, if I’m capable of anything, if I can be used anywhere saw in this chapter, how much Yahweh loves me.
I felt like the afflicted one, which storm had tossed – storms of destroying thoughts, no comfort to be found. I didn’t feel worthy of being used for anything bigger than me, but Yahweh showed me clearly: “I will set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your pinnacles of agate,
your gates of carbuncles,
and all your wall of precious stones.”
I am worthy, so much worthy that the Lord wants to build me up of precious stones, he wants to lay my foundations with sapphires, so that I can use the gifts which He has given to me.
I am worthy of love because He says so.
You are worthy of love because He says so.
He wants to build you up with precious stones and give you comfort.
This painting is made from this passage in Isaiah 54. When I find that I am destroying myself with bad thoughts I return to this chapter and remind myself of how deeply I am loved.
Isaiah 54:10-17:
"For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
“O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,
behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your pinnacles of agate,
your gates of carbuncles,
and all your wall of precious stones.
All your children shall be taught by the LORD,
and great shall be the peace of your children.
In righteousness you shall be established;
you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
If anyone stirs up strife,
it is not from me;
whoever stirs up strife with you
shall fall because of you.
Behold, I have created the smith
who blows the fire of coals
and produces a weapon for its purpose.
I have also created the ravager to destroy;
no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD
and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”
NOTHING ... but everything
”Is something wrong?”
“No … nothing’s wrong”
“You sure?”
“Yes – I’m fine”
I have had this conversation multiple times. My husband, mom and dad or a friends asks, if something’s wrong, because I am so quiet … not saying a word, not really answering when they say something, and I probably seem to be somewhere else. I tell them, nothing’s wrong, because I don’t want to burden them with my thoughts. At times because my thoughts are depressing and not worth sharing. Other times because the thoughts are concerning things that have happened throughout the day that just need to digest and be processed. Sometimes they are happy thoughts that need time to settle down and be cherished, so that they don’t vanish.
Most people probably feel this way every now and then, for example when something big has happened. For highly sensitive people, this happens a lot. Because we take in more information than other people, there is more that needs to pass through our nervous system to be processed. Because of our empathic and sympathic nature, we have a hard time not to take the things that happen to us very personally, but also the things that other people experience – either from us or in relations with others. By nature, we want to be the ones to make someone else feel good, and because many of us are very intuitive we often sense what the other person needs without them saying so, or even realizing themselves.
It can be very tough for highly sensitive people to control these innate instincts, but if we don’t learn to handle them correctly then we are sure to get burned out – sooner or later. That is why it is so very important for us, to investigate ourselves and learn to listen to and know our inner being. We need to learn to see, when to intercede and when not to; when to let something go and when to cherish it; when to step into character and when to keep up the façade. It is also absolutely necessary for us to talk to the ones closest to us, about how we handle different situations when we are overstimulated.
I have learned let my thoughts have space to roam. When many things have happened throughout the day or within a short amount of time – many overstimulating things – I give myself time to relive the stuff that needs to be relived; to process the different situations that have deeply affected me, and tell myself: “Bjørg, this thing has passed, now, we throw it away,” or “This was a good memory, which makes me happy.”
It is when I am in this processing state of mind that I most often get asked the question: “It something wrong?” and most often I answer: “Nothing” – because I just need to process the input from the day. I have learned that when I feel that something needs to be processed more thoroughly than just in my head, I talk to someone about it – but most often it really it “Nothing” more than an overflowing mind that needs to be sorted through, processed, cleansed and tidied up in peace and quiet.
If I at times don’t say much, it is probably because it is noisy inside my own head.
“No … nothing’s wrong”
“You sure?”
“Yes – I’m fine”
I have had this conversation multiple times. My husband, mom and dad or a friends asks, if something’s wrong, because I am so quiet … not saying a word, not really answering when they say something, and I probably seem to be somewhere else. I tell them, nothing’s wrong, because I don’t want to burden them with my thoughts. At times because my thoughts are depressing and not worth sharing. Other times because the thoughts are concerning things that have happened throughout the day that just need to digest and be processed. Sometimes they are happy thoughts that need time to settle down and be cherished, so that they don’t vanish.
Most people probably feel this way every now and then, for example when something big has happened. For highly sensitive people, this happens a lot. Because we take in more information than other people, there is more that needs to pass through our nervous system to be processed. Because of our empathic and sympathic nature, we have a hard time not to take the things that happen to us very personally, but also the things that other people experience – either from us or in relations with others. By nature, we want to be the ones to make someone else feel good, and because many of us are very intuitive we often sense what the other person needs without them saying so, or even realizing themselves.
It can be very tough for highly sensitive people to control these innate instincts, but if we don’t learn to handle them correctly then we are sure to get burned out – sooner or later. That is why it is so very important for us, to investigate ourselves and learn to listen to and know our inner being. We need to learn to see, when to intercede and when not to; when to let something go and when to cherish it; when to step into character and when to keep up the façade. It is also absolutely necessary for us to talk to the ones closest to us, about how we handle different situations when we are overstimulated.
I have learned let my thoughts have space to roam. When many things have happened throughout the day or within a short amount of time – many overstimulating things – I give myself time to relive the stuff that needs to be relived; to process the different situations that have deeply affected me, and tell myself: “Bjørg, this thing has passed, now, we throw it away,” or “This was a good memory, which makes me happy.”
It is when I am in this processing state of mind that I most often get asked the question: “It something wrong?” and most often I answer: “Nothing” – because I just need to process the input from the day. I have learned that when I feel that something needs to be processed more thoroughly than just in my head, I talk to someone about it – but most often it really it “Nothing” more than an overflowing mind that needs to be sorted through, processed, cleansed and tidied up in peace and quiet.
If I at times don’t say much, it is probably because it is noisy inside my own head.
THE DARKNESS HAS NOT OVERCOME IT
One morning in Spring 2015 I went on a run during sunrise. While running I was filled with gratefulness for life, and for experiencing such a beautiful sunrise.
My thought took rise, and I felt something beautiful being created inside of my head. Something beautiful and unrealistic – but actually very realistic, and I couldn’t wait to put it on paper.
This was what I imagined.
This is my interpretation of a sunrise a beautiful morning in Spring.
I wanted to share this drawing, because I think it so wonderfully explains the rich, complex inner life of us highly sensitives.
One “simple” sunrise became a complex and rich drawing with lots of details – and it was therapy for me to draw all these details.
This is one of the traits of highly sensitive people: to have an especially rich and complex inner life. This means that we have a very good imagination and can think very deep and long about stuff.
This comes with both benefits and hindrances – as with so many things in life. This means that we tire easily and are easily overstimulated. If we experience something that has a significant effect on us, it can stick to our thought for multiple days, in extremely precise details, and because of our imagination it can be blown out of proportion.
This is when we need to learn to look at the truth, and not let our imagination, and what we have unintentionally made it to be, become the new truth.
Letting our imagination run wild in times like these can make us end up in a bad spiral – a very unhealthy spiral which only leads to more overstimulation, stress and anxiety.
But this imagination is also a benefit and strength when we learn how to use it right. For one thing: many highly sensitives become artists, psychologist or other professions that crave a certain creativity and/or a special talent for working with people (empathy and sympathy).
So highly sensitive people must learn how to control our rich and wild imagination, but we also must learn how to appreciate it and use it well.
My thought took rise, and I felt something beautiful being created inside of my head. Something beautiful and unrealistic – but actually very realistic, and I couldn’t wait to put it on paper.
This was what I imagined.
This is my interpretation of a sunrise a beautiful morning in Spring.
I wanted to share this drawing, because I think it so wonderfully explains the rich, complex inner life of us highly sensitives.
One “simple” sunrise became a complex and rich drawing with lots of details – and it was therapy for me to draw all these details.
This is one of the traits of highly sensitive people: to have an especially rich and complex inner life. This means that we have a very good imagination and can think very deep and long about stuff.
This comes with both benefits and hindrances – as with so many things in life. This means that we tire easily and are easily overstimulated. If we experience something that has a significant effect on us, it can stick to our thought for multiple days, in extremely precise details, and because of our imagination it can be blown out of proportion.
This is when we need to learn to look at the truth, and not let our imagination, and what we have unintentionally made it to be, become the new truth.
Letting our imagination run wild in times like these can make us end up in a bad spiral – a very unhealthy spiral which only leads to more overstimulation, stress and anxiety.
But this imagination is also a benefit and strength when we learn how to use it right. For one thing: many highly sensitives become artists, psychologist or other professions that crave a certain creativity and/or a special talent for working with people (empathy and sympathy).
So highly sensitive people must learn how to control our rich and wild imagination, but we also must learn how to appreciate it and use it well.
FLOWERGIRL
Highly Sensitives in Relationships
Quotes from Elaine N. Aron’s book “The Highly Sensitive Person – how to thrive when the world overwhelms you”.
This quote is from chapter 5 “Social Relationships”, where Elaine talks about common behaviors of highly sensitive people in relationships. She states how HSP’s often are called: shy and are stuck in this negative description of us. She says that we shouldn’t see ourselves as shy, but rather highly sensitive. She also recommends ways to learn how to handle overstimulation in social situations:
1. Remember that overstimulation not necessarily is anxiety.
2. Find other highly sensitive people to talk to.
3. Use your “stimulation-reducing” tools.
4. Make up a good “persona” (How you behave in social situations), and use it.
5. Tell others about your personality trait.
She then goes on to talk about the topic of introverts and extraverts – how being introverted often is seen as negative in this time and age, that runs with 300m/h. She urges the introverts to appreciate their introversion, and simultaneously respecting the extrovert’s strengths. She writes:
“There are many reasons why introverted people prefer close realtionships. One reason is that in a close relationship one can best understand and aid each other. A good friend or spouse can also provoke you more than just someone you know, but this makes you grow in your inner being, which is something highly sensitive people cherish a lot. Because of our intuition we probably like most to talk about complex things like philosophy, feelings and such. This is hard to do with a stranger, or when you’re at a party or some gathering as such. Introverts also have virtues that make us great at close relationships. In a close, intimate relationship the highly sensitive person can get a feeling of social improvement.
The extroverts are also right when they say: a stranger is only a friend I haven’t met yet. All your closest friends were once strangers. As time goes by and those friendships change (or maybe end), we must always try to meet new potential friends. So one idea is to think back to when and how you met your current friends and trying to recreate it.
Sometimes we just have to appreciate the world out there, as it is, and be grateful for the ones that help us – the extroverts who can make even a complete stranger feel like a friend.
Quotes from Elaine N. Aron’s book “The Highly Sensitive Person – how to thrive when the world overwhelms you”.
This quote is from chapter 5 “Social Relationships”, where Elaine talks about common behaviors of highly sensitive people in relationships. She states how HSP’s often are called: shy and are stuck in this negative description of us. She says that we shouldn’t see ourselves as shy, but rather highly sensitive. She also recommends ways to learn how to handle overstimulation in social situations:
1. Remember that overstimulation not necessarily is anxiety.
2. Find other highly sensitive people to talk to.
3. Use your “stimulation-reducing” tools.
4. Make up a good “persona” (How you behave in social situations), and use it.
5. Tell others about your personality trait.
She then goes on to talk about the topic of introverts and extraverts – how being introverted often is seen as negative in this time and age, that runs with 300m/h. She urges the introverts to appreciate their introversion, and simultaneously respecting the extrovert’s strengths. She writes:
“There are many reasons why introverted people prefer close realtionships. One reason is that in a close relationship one can best understand and aid each other. A good friend or spouse can also provoke you more than just someone you know, but this makes you grow in your inner being, which is something highly sensitive people cherish a lot. Because of our intuition we probably like most to talk about complex things like philosophy, feelings and such. This is hard to do with a stranger, or when you’re at a party or some gathering as such. Introverts also have virtues that make us great at close relationships. In a close, intimate relationship the highly sensitive person can get a feeling of social improvement.
The extroverts are also right when they say: a stranger is only a friend I haven’t met yet. All your closest friends were once strangers. As time goes by and those friendships change (or maybe end), we must always try to meet new potential friends. So one idea is to think back to when and how you met your current friends and trying to recreate it.
Sometimes we just have to appreciate the world out there, as it is, and be grateful for the ones that help us – the extroverts who can make even a complete stranger feel like a friend.
PersephoneOleander-Aari
9 Crucials for Highly Sensitive People
1. A slow-paced, simple speed of life.
Because we deeply process information, we need more time to complete different tasks. We may need more time to make decisions about simple things, like for instance what to buy at the grocery shop.
2. Time to decompress after a long day.
We cannot be “on” for long periods of time. Our sensitive nervous system consumes loads of information and processes it down to the smallest detail. As a result, we get easily overstimulated and burnt out after a long, full day.
3. A peaceful and quiet place to retract to.
This place – ideally – has low light, no noise, and a warm feeling, is beautiful to look at and contains our favorite tools that help us relax (for ex. Books, music, a comfortable pillow etc.)
4. Close, meaningful relationships.
We need close and deep relations with others. This means that we tend to be picky with the people we let into our lives. A simple “on-the-surface” friendship just doesn’t cut it for us. We want to dive deep into our soul and make a special connection with you.
5. An outlet for our creativity.
Many Highly Sensitives have a strong need to create. We let our observations and feelings run free through our art, poetry, music etc.
6. A strong feeling of purpose.
We think deeply about the big things in life. Who am I? Why am I here? Hvat have I been sent here to do? No matter if it is to write a book, travel the world or be the leader for something or someone that we believe in, we highly sensitives long for a feeling of a bigger purpose.
7. Natural surroundings and beauty.
Highly Sensitive or not – our surroundings affect us all no matter what. For us highly sensitives the affection is deeper. How it all looks really means something. Untidiness, chaos, or just simply ugly surroundings can really disturb us. Beauty sooths, rejuvenates and calms the soul.
8. People whom we love, who understand and respect us and our sensitive nature.
We need some people – at least the ones closest to us – who “understand” our sensitivity. Someone who not only understands, but also helps protect us from overstimulation. Someone who sees all the wonderful gifts that come with this trait.
9. Time to adjust to change.
Changes can be hard on everybody, but for us highly sensitives it can snowball downhill very fast, and we get stressed and overwhelmed. Even positive changes, like for example starting a new relationship, or moving into our dream home, can be overstimulating and demand more time for us to adjust.
1. A slow-paced, simple speed of life.
Because we deeply process information, we need more time to complete different tasks. We may need more time to make decisions about simple things, like for instance what to buy at the grocery shop.
2. Time to decompress after a long day.
We cannot be “on” for long periods of time. Our sensitive nervous system consumes loads of information and processes it down to the smallest detail. As a result, we get easily overstimulated and burnt out after a long, full day.
3. A peaceful and quiet place to retract to.
This place – ideally – has low light, no noise, and a warm feeling, is beautiful to look at and contains our favorite tools that help us relax (for ex. Books, music, a comfortable pillow etc.)
4. Close, meaningful relationships.
We need close and deep relations with others. This means that we tend to be picky with the people we let into our lives. A simple “on-the-surface” friendship just doesn’t cut it for us. We want to dive deep into our soul and make a special connection with you.
5. An outlet for our creativity.
Many Highly Sensitives have a strong need to create. We let our observations and feelings run free through our art, poetry, music etc.
6. A strong feeling of purpose.
We think deeply about the big things in life. Who am I? Why am I here? Hvat have I been sent here to do? No matter if it is to write a book, travel the world or be the leader for something or someone that we believe in, we highly sensitives long for a feeling of a bigger purpose.
7. Natural surroundings and beauty.
Highly Sensitive or not – our surroundings affect us all no matter what. For us highly sensitives the affection is deeper. How it all looks really means something. Untidiness, chaos, or just simply ugly surroundings can really disturb us. Beauty sooths, rejuvenates and calms the soul.
8. People whom we love, who understand and respect us and our sensitive nature.
We need some people – at least the ones closest to us – who “understand” our sensitivity. Someone who not only understands, but also helps protect us from overstimulation. Someone who sees all the wonderful gifts that come with this trait.
9. Time to adjust to change.
Changes can be hard on everybody, but for us highly sensitives it can snowball downhill very fast, and we get stressed and overwhelmed. Even positive changes, like for example starting a new relationship, or moving into our dream home, can be overstimulating and demand more time for us to adjust.
REFUGE
When I looked at the finished painting the song “Komi Heim” (EN: Coming Home) by Anton Liljedahl came to me. I wasn’t certain why, but I wanted to read the lyrics, and Anton was so kind as to send it to me.
Coming Home (Roughly translated)
I’m longing for more
But the delight only lasts for a while
The Earth will fail; in dark valleys, I can’t find the path
Fumbling, searching.
Lead astray by the glow.
I was blind, but now I see: though I lost it all, I found more here with You.
I’m coming home.
Hope where are you now?
I dreamt of a peace by the seashore.
You are the light on my path
In storm and darkness I come to You.
Fumbling, searching.
Lead astray by the glow.
I was blind, but now I see: though I lost it all, I found more here with You.
I’m coming home.
And all that I needed,
Was always right here by my side.
Now I know: Even if I travel far and wide
I’m coming home
This is such great lyrics.
I think the reason why, this song came to me, is because I remember when it was discussed in a local music radioshow. They were talking about this song as a “Love to your homeland” song. I remember thinking: you are completely off track, because it is so clearly a song about God – to be home in his presence. But that’s how it is with lyrics and all kinds of art for that matter: it is interpreted in many different ways depending on the ear that hears and eye that sees; that’s the beauty.
It is a mix of both these interpretations that made me think of this song, when the painting was finished. This is one of the few times, when I have painted a picture without having a message in my head beforehand. But the message came loud and clear as soon as I saw the finished work – the message according to me!
The name Refuge in English doesn’t do the painting justice, because the name in Faroese is a special combination of two words that are very similar. In Faroese it is called Frí(ð)rúm. It is a combination of the word Frírúm (Refuge) and Fríðrúm (Beautiful place). The only distinction is the letter “ð”. This wordplay in Faroese adds two dimensions:
FRÍRÚM (Refuge): Symbolizes my need to have a place where I feel completely free; a place where I can truly be me. This place for me is in Gods presence – when I come home to Him, where I find more than the world can offer.
FRÍÐRÚM (Beautiful place): Because it is beautiful – there, I am beautiful; God has made me beautiful. When I am home in is presence I am beautiful. The things I make, feel, learn and know in this “FRÍÐRÚM” are beautiful and good.
But my FRÍRÚM (Refuge) is also Faroe Islands, Syðrugøta (My hometown), the infield path, where we usual go for on our daily walk, the sheepfold at the end of the path, the Isthmus of our village – the love for one’s home. The flowers in the painting are Faroese wildflowers, and my choice to only use these specific flowers is on purpose, because Faroe Islands is also a FRÍÐRÚM (Beautiful place). It is with inspiration from our beautiful nature, majestic mountains, terrifying natural forces and healing sounds from nature that I create, what I do. Even though it doesn’t always show clearly, it is this – and of course other things as well – that fills me with the wanting to create and use the gifts I have been given.
Now you have gotten my interpretation of the painting, but as it was with the song: Maybe you will interpret it a completely different way. That is what I love about art – no one can tell you that YOUR interpretation is wrong, because what ever you receive from the art is what speaks to YOU at exactly this moment.
I would love to hear, what YOUR interpretation is of this painting (and/or another one of my paintings) – so if you want, feel free to send me a message with your interpretation and we can chat
You can listen to the song by clicking the link
or on Spotify:
“Eg Komi Heim – Anton Liljedahl”
The wildflowers are:
- Daisy
- Bluebell
- Woodland Geranium
- Faroese Heather-bell
- Primrose
Coming Home (Roughly translated)
I’m longing for more
But the delight only lasts for a while
The Earth will fail; in dark valleys, I can’t find the path
Fumbling, searching.
Lead astray by the glow.
I was blind, but now I see: though I lost it all, I found more here with You.
I’m coming home.
Hope where are you now?
I dreamt of a peace by the seashore.
You are the light on my path
In storm and darkness I come to You.
Fumbling, searching.
Lead astray by the glow.
I was blind, but now I see: though I lost it all, I found more here with You.
I’m coming home.
And all that I needed,
Was always right here by my side.
Now I know: Even if I travel far and wide
I’m coming home
This is such great lyrics.
I think the reason why, this song came to me, is because I remember when it was discussed in a local music radioshow. They were talking about this song as a “Love to your homeland” song. I remember thinking: you are completely off track, because it is so clearly a song about God – to be home in his presence. But that’s how it is with lyrics and all kinds of art for that matter: it is interpreted in many different ways depending on the ear that hears and eye that sees; that’s the beauty.
It is a mix of both these interpretations that made me think of this song, when the painting was finished. This is one of the few times, when I have painted a picture without having a message in my head beforehand. But the message came loud and clear as soon as I saw the finished work – the message according to me!
The name Refuge in English doesn’t do the painting justice, because the name in Faroese is a special combination of two words that are very similar. In Faroese it is called Frí(ð)rúm. It is a combination of the word Frírúm (Refuge) and Fríðrúm (Beautiful place). The only distinction is the letter “ð”. This wordplay in Faroese adds two dimensions:
FRÍRÚM (Refuge): Symbolizes my need to have a place where I feel completely free; a place where I can truly be me. This place for me is in Gods presence – when I come home to Him, where I find more than the world can offer.
FRÍÐRÚM (Beautiful place): Because it is beautiful – there, I am beautiful; God has made me beautiful. When I am home in is presence I am beautiful. The things I make, feel, learn and know in this “FRÍÐRÚM” are beautiful and good.
But my FRÍRÚM (Refuge) is also Faroe Islands, Syðrugøta (My hometown), the infield path, where we usual go for on our daily walk, the sheepfold at the end of the path, the Isthmus of our village – the love for one’s home. The flowers in the painting are Faroese wildflowers, and my choice to only use these specific flowers is on purpose, because Faroe Islands is also a FRÍÐRÚM (Beautiful place). It is with inspiration from our beautiful nature, majestic mountains, terrifying natural forces and healing sounds from nature that I create, what I do. Even though it doesn’t always show clearly, it is this – and of course other things as well – that fills me with the wanting to create and use the gifts I have been given.
Now you have gotten my interpretation of the painting, but as it was with the song: Maybe you will interpret it a completely different way. That is what I love about art – no one can tell you that YOUR interpretation is wrong, because what ever you receive from the art is what speaks to YOU at exactly this moment.
I would love to hear, what YOUR interpretation is of this painting (and/or another one of my paintings) – so if you want, feel free to send me a message with your interpretation and we can chat
You can listen to the song by clicking the link
or on Spotify:
“Eg Komi Heim – Anton Liljedahl”
The wildflowers are:
- Daisy
- Bluebell
- Woodland Geranium
- Faroese Heather-bell
- Primrose
LILIES OF THE FIELD
Men, Extraverts or High Sensation Seeking
Sometimes men, extraverts and people who are High Sensation Seeking (HSS) are not sure whether they’re highly sensitive or not. (HSS: in short is a person who likes trying new things and getting an adrenaline kick https://hsperson.com/test/high-sensation-seeking-test/ ). Some parents also have a tendency to think that their kid cannot be highly sensitve because it’s a boy or the kid likes to be social and likes to try new things.
Research shows that there are just as many men as women who are born highly sensitive - even though there of course are differences because of their gender, as well as how their family and community views high sensitivity. But when speaking of adult HSPs, men answer less “yes” to the HSP-test (https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/) than women.
The test was made with the assumption that men and women would answer approximately the same amount of “yes” throughout the test, but when men started answering questions most of them anwered “yes” to lesser and lesser questions throughout the test - as if they were feeling like they were about to reveal their sensitivy; and it was making them nervous. With this in mind it is very important for parents to keep an eye out for these tendencies - especially if you have a boy - before determining whether your kid, spouse or you yourself are highly sensitive.
Also 70% of HSPs are introverted which often makes people assume, that HSP equals introvert - but ofcourse if 70% are introverted than 30% are extraverted (by extravert I mean, people who like/feel energized by being in big crowds, meeting strangers and to be surrounded by alot of friends.) If this sounds like you, your kid or spouse, this kind of high sensitivity is simply a different taste of high sensitivity: the sensitive person is extraverted, but at the same the he/she needs a good amount of time to relax and recharge - unlike non highly sensitive extraverts.
The information is from the link below. Click the link to read more.
Ps. These pictures are made with inspiration from Matt. 6:25-34 which my husband got written inside of my weddingring.
Sometimes men, extraverts and people who are High Sensation Seeking (HSS) are not sure whether they’re highly sensitive or not. (HSS: in short is a person who likes trying new things and getting an adrenaline kick https://hsperson.com/test/high-sensation-seeking-test/ ). Some parents also have a tendency to think that their kid cannot be highly sensitve because it’s a boy or the kid likes to be social and likes to try new things.
Research shows that there are just as many men as women who are born highly sensitive - even though there of course are differences because of their gender, as well as how their family and community views high sensitivity. But when speaking of adult HSPs, men answer less “yes” to the HSP-test (https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/) than women.
The test was made with the assumption that men and women would answer approximately the same amount of “yes” throughout the test, but when men started answering questions most of them anwered “yes” to lesser and lesser questions throughout the test - as if they were feeling like they were about to reveal their sensitivy; and it was making them nervous. With this in mind it is very important for parents to keep an eye out for these tendencies - especially if you have a boy - before determining whether your kid, spouse or you yourself are highly sensitive.
Also 70% of HSPs are introverted which often makes people assume, that HSP equals introvert - but ofcourse if 70% are introverted than 30% are extraverted (by extravert I mean, people who like/feel energized by being in big crowds, meeting strangers and to be surrounded by alot of friends.) If this sounds like you, your kid or spouse, this kind of high sensitivity is simply a different taste of high sensitivity: the sensitive person is extraverted, but at the same the he/she needs a good amount of time to relax and recharge - unlike non highly sensitive extraverts.
The information is from the link below. Click the link to read more.
Ps. These pictures are made with inspiration from Matt. 6:25-34 which my husband got written inside of my weddingring.
HSP-II
15 facts about highly sensitive people
1. You are kind, compassionate, and empathetic.
2. You prefer deep conversations instead of small talk.
3. You crave meaning and fulfillment.
4. You feel drained and need extra downtime after crowds, socializing or traveling.
5. You tend to be hard on yourself if you have an intense emotional reaction.
6. You can be moved emotionally by art, nature, and beauty.
7. You find it important to be courteous.
8. You tend to experience high stress.
9. You often experience symptoms of anxiety.
10. You often experience the feeling of being overwhelmed.
11. You try so hard to get things right that being criticized feels extra difficult.
12. You have felt abnormal, “crazy,” weird, or different.
This is impacted by how your culture and family perceive sensitivity. It can be labeled as wrong (“Don’t be so sensitive.”).
13. Even though you are highly compassionate toward others, you find it harder to be self-compassionate.
14. You consider a lot of details when making decisions.
15. You tend to blame yourself if someone is disappointed.
Not all HSPs can relate to all of these facts, but this is what HSPs most often say, when research is made.
1. You are kind, compassionate, and empathetic.
2. You prefer deep conversations instead of small talk.
3. You crave meaning and fulfillment.
4. You feel drained and need extra downtime after crowds, socializing or traveling.
5. You tend to be hard on yourself if you have an intense emotional reaction.
6. You can be moved emotionally by art, nature, and beauty.
7. You find it important to be courteous.
8. You tend to experience high stress.
9. You often experience symptoms of anxiety.
10. You often experience the feeling of being overwhelmed.
11. You try so hard to get things right that being criticized feels extra difficult.
12. You have felt abnormal, “crazy,” weird, or different.
This is impacted by how your culture and family perceive sensitivity. It can be labeled as wrong (“Don’t be so sensitive.”).
13. Even though you are highly compassionate toward others, you find it harder to be self-compassionate.
14. You consider a lot of details when making decisions.
15. You tend to blame yourself if someone is disappointed.
Not all HSPs can relate to all of these facts, but this is what HSPs most often say, when research is made.
THE SILENCE
HSPs get easily overstimulated by what happens around them. For example being around many people can be very tiresome for us - especially people we don’t know or aren’t close to. The reason for this is that our brain absorbes more than “normal”, and because of this we absorb other people’s feelings and are very much aware of noise, lights, smell and the mood in a room. This ofcourse fills our head, and if the brain does not get any peace and quiet to handle the information and input, it easily becomes too much
When speaking to people about HSP, many think it is only Introverts who are highly sensitive - this is not true. Tests have shown that 70% are introverts while 30% are extraverts. When I have spoken to extraverted HSPs, many of them have said that they struggle with this. It is a struggle for them because they feel like they are energized by being around other people, but at the same time, they feel that their head can’t handle all of the stimuli after a little while with many people. Because of this they feel that it is very hard to know, when they have had enough and to actually listen to their body, when it tells them to take a step back to recharge.
I myself am an introvert, so I don’t actually feel the need to be around people, but when I am, I quickly feel that it gets too overwhelming. In these situations it is so important to have a significant other (spouse, friend, parent, sibling …) who knows me, and what I need. When I feel that I need to retract, I don’t have to do anything else than look at my husband in a specific way, and he instantly knows, what I mean.
I think this is so very important for us HSPs: to have someone, who knows what is going on inside of our head and is understanding in regards of, when we have had enough, and also understands that the day after (at times multiple days after) we might need alot of peace to just be alone.
This is what I have tried to symbolize in this painting. The worth of what is “said” in the silence, while everything else is “raging on” around us.
Click the link to see some videos of Elaine Aron talking about HSP. Elaine Aron does research in High Sensitivity and is herself one of the 20% HSPs in the world.
When speaking to people about HSP, many think it is only Introverts who are highly sensitive - this is not true. Tests have shown that 70% are introverts while 30% are extraverts. When I have spoken to extraverted HSPs, many of them have said that they struggle with this. It is a struggle for them because they feel like they are energized by being around other people, but at the same time, they feel that their head can’t handle all of the stimuli after a little while with many people. Because of this they feel that it is very hard to know, when they have had enough and to actually listen to their body, when it tells them to take a step back to recharge.
I myself am an introvert, so I don’t actually feel the need to be around people, but when I am, I quickly feel that it gets too overwhelming. In these situations it is so important to have a significant other (spouse, friend, parent, sibling …) who knows me, and what I need. When I feel that I need to retract, I don’t have to do anything else than look at my husband in a specific way, and he instantly knows, what I mean.
I think this is so very important for us HSPs: to have someone, who knows what is going on inside of our head and is understanding in regards of, when we have had enough, and also understands that the day after (at times multiple days after) we might need alot of peace to just be alone.
This is what I have tried to symbolize in this painting. The worth of what is “said” in the silence, while everything else is “raging on” around us.
Click the link to see some videos of Elaine Aron talking about HSP. Elaine Aron does research in High Sensitivity and is herself one of the 20% HSPs in the world.
FLOWERS
HSPs often need to retract to just be alone in order to get some peace and relief from input and stimuli. After a whole workweek I definitely feel the need to retract from social life.
It differs how I handle this - today (saturday) I have drawn and painted almost since I woke up - and it feels so good for my sensitive brain.
Click on this link to check if you maybe are a Highly Sensitive Person and read more about it.
It differs how I handle this - today (saturday) I have drawn and painted almost since I woke up - and it feels so good for my sensitive brain.
Click on this link to check if you maybe are a Highly Sensitive Person and read more about it.
WINDSWEPT
As I have mentioned before: one of the most important things for us HSPs is to recharge.
One way of recharging for me personally is by going for a run - ideally in rain and wind.
Even though us HSPs normally get overstimulated by too much input and sensory stimuli, there are many HSPs who really like and consider it relieving to step outside, when it is raining, and the wind is blowing. I do not know the exact reason for this, because logically one would think that it would only add to the overstimulation of the day, but for me it feels cleansing and liberating to feel the wind and rain on my face.
It differs how we recharge. This is one thing that I do. Another tool I use to recharge is by drawing and painting - specifically pictures like this one with multiple repetitive patterns.
One way of recharging for me personally is by going for a run - ideally in rain and wind.
Even though us HSPs normally get overstimulated by too much input and sensory stimuli, there are many HSPs who really like and consider it relieving to step outside, when it is raining, and the wind is blowing. I do not know the exact reason for this, because logically one would think that it would only add to the overstimulation of the day, but for me it feels cleansing and liberating to feel the wind and rain on my face.
It differs how we recharge. This is one thing that I do. Another tool I use to recharge is by drawing and painting - specifically pictures like this one with multiple repetitive patterns.
HSP
More on HSP … How did I find out that I am a HSP?
3 common traits for HSPs:
1. We’re often emotionally exhausted from absorbing other people’s feelings and emotions.
2. We have a rich, complex inner life.
3. We are easily overwhelmed from sensory stimuli such as loud places, bright lights or uncomfortable clothes.
Do you recognize any of these traits? Maybe in yourself, a spouse, familymember, child or friend?
HSPs are often more aware of small details. The main reason for this is that our brain processes all information and experience and considers it more deeply than other people’s. So even if you wear glasses, and you are highly sensitive, you still see more than other people, because of your inborn ability to notice every little detail.
This also makes it easier for us HSPs to be overwhelmed. When you notice everything it’s natural to become overwhelmed when it gets very dreadful, complex, caotic or unknown for too long.
It is different from different societies how sensitivity is valued. In societies where high sensitivity is not seen as a good thing, HSPs have a tendency to have low selfesteem. They are told to not be so sensitive, which makes them feel abnormal and wrong.
I have felt all of these things for as long as I can remember, but for a long time I could not understand, why I didn’t have the energy to be around many people and dreaded meeting strangers - and not only people I didn’t know but places I hadn’t been before also overwhelmed me.
In 2018 i went to see a psychologist, because I was feeling completely abnormal and had very low self-esteem. I just couldn’t understand, why I didn’t want, like and wasn’t able to spend my time the same way as my classmates and people my age - and I didn’t know, why I reacted the way I did in certain situations. This is when my psychologist told me about HSP and we were both certain right away that this was the case: I am a Highly Sensitive Person.
This was LIFECHANGING for me.
It gave me a better understanding of, what was actually going on inside of my head, and I started listening to what my mind and body needed to be able to function as highly sensitive.
Before this, I always tried to keep up with the others and follow the flow, even though I absolutely couldn’t manage.
Now I am learning to give my brain time to get some air, get a break from input and impressions that fill up and tire, and I prioritize the stuff that recharges my mind and body.
It is very different from each individual HSP how you recharge, but to recharge is the most crucial thing for and HSP. This is why it is so important to give ourselves time to get to know and tend to our own needs, so that we also can be there for the people in our lives without us burning out.
If you want to read more about HSP go to www.hsperson.com and/or follow along to see when I upload the next blogpost.
3 common traits for HSPs:
1. We’re often emotionally exhausted from absorbing other people’s feelings and emotions.
2. We have a rich, complex inner life.
3. We are easily overwhelmed from sensory stimuli such as loud places, bright lights or uncomfortable clothes.
Do you recognize any of these traits? Maybe in yourself, a spouse, familymember, child or friend?
HSPs are often more aware of small details. The main reason for this is that our brain processes all information and experience and considers it more deeply than other people’s. So even if you wear glasses, and you are highly sensitive, you still see more than other people, because of your inborn ability to notice every little detail.
This also makes it easier for us HSPs to be overwhelmed. When you notice everything it’s natural to become overwhelmed when it gets very dreadful, complex, caotic or unknown for too long.
It is different from different societies how sensitivity is valued. In societies where high sensitivity is not seen as a good thing, HSPs have a tendency to have low selfesteem. They are told to not be so sensitive, which makes them feel abnormal and wrong.
I have felt all of these things for as long as I can remember, but for a long time I could not understand, why I didn’t have the energy to be around many people and dreaded meeting strangers - and not only people I didn’t know but places I hadn’t been before also overwhelmed me.
In 2018 i went to see a psychologist, because I was feeling completely abnormal and had very low self-esteem. I just couldn’t understand, why I didn’t want, like and wasn’t able to spend my time the same way as my classmates and people my age - and I didn’t know, why I reacted the way I did in certain situations. This is when my psychologist told me about HSP and we were both certain right away that this was the case: I am a Highly Sensitive Person.
This was LIFECHANGING for me.
It gave me a better understanding of, what was actually going on inside of my head, and I started listening to what my mind and body needed to be able to function as highly sensitive.
Before this, I always tried to keep up with the others and follow the flow, even though I absolutely couldn’t manage.
Now I am learning to give my brain time to get some air, get a break from input and impressions that fill up and tire, and I prioritize the stuff that recharges my mind and body.
It is very different from each individual HSP how you recharge, but to recharge is the most crucial thing for and HSP. This is why it is so important to give ourselves time to get to know and tend to our own needs, so that we also can be there for the people in our lives without us burning out.
If you want to read more about HSP go to www.hsperson.com and/or follow along to see when I upload the next blogpost.
HSP-1
What is HSP?
The definition of a highly sensitive person is “someone who experiences acute physical, mental, or emotional responses to stimuli.
This can include external stimuli, like your surroundings and the people you’re with, or internal stimuli, like your own thoughts, emotions and realizations.”
About 20% of the world’s population are highly sensitive. It is not a disability, but it can be hard to live as a highly sensitive person, if you don’t know yourself and your need to recharge. I really do think that being an HSP is a superpower, if you know how to deal with it correctly.
I am part of the 20% HSPs in the world, and this artpiece represents how it often feels in my head.
A beautiful mess.
Any fellow HSPs out there? Or maybe you know someone, who might be highly sensitive? Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, inquiries etc.
The definition of a highly sensitive person is “someone who experiences acute physical, mental, or emotional responses to stimuli.
This can include external stimuli, like your surroundings and the people you’re with, or internal stimuli, like your own thoughts, emotions and realizations.”
About 20% of the world’s population are highly sensitive. It is not a disability, but it can be hard to live as a highly sensitive person, if you don’t know yourself and your need to recharge. I really do think that being an HSP is a superpower, if you know how to deal with it correctly.
I am part of the 20% HSPs in the world, and this artpiece represents how it often feels in my head.
A beautiful mess.
Any fellow HSPs out there? Or maybe you know someone, who might be highly sensitive? Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, inquiries etc.
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