Have you ever read or heard something and thought, Well… that’s uncomfortably accurate?
As in… How do you even know all this about me??

Well, that’s how I stumbled across the idea of being a highly sensitive person (HSP).

I wasn’t looking for a label or trying to explain myself to anyone. I just always knew I was a bit more sensitive than other people — more affected by noise, beauty, atmosphere, and emotional tone.

It has never really been a problem exactly, but it has been frustrating at times, making me feel a bit lonely and misunderstood.

The accidental YouTube moment

I actually came across the idea of highly sensitive people by accident.

I’ve always been interested in psychology and emotional behaviour, and when I saw a video about HSPs, I thought, what is that?

Out of curiosity, I clicked… and listened.
And then I kept thinking, Oh… that’s me.

It didn’t suddenly explain my entire existence, but it made a lot of things click.

Have you ever had that feeling of relief when you realise you’re not alone — or not actually “weird” after all? 😊

Realising I wasn’t “too much”, just tuned differently

For a long time, I didn’t think I was bad at coping. I just thought my tolerance levels were lower than most people.

Looking back, these are the kinds of things I now recognise as traits of a highly sensitive person:

Noise bothers me sooner…
Like hearing roadwork all day long, hubby using power tools, phones ringing — or even the TV being just a little too loud while someone is talking to me at the same time.

Busy environments tire me faster…
Like walking through a shopping centre and feeling completely drained after 20 minutes, even if I haven’t bought anything.
Or needing quiet time after being around people — not because I don’t enjoy it, but because my system needs a break.

Beauty hits me deeper…
Like a ray of light in the late afternoon, the way trees move in the wind, or even watching my dogs play in the backyard…
Sometimes I feel so full in my chest it’s almost overwhelming — like I need to pause and just be with it.

It can be overwhelming sometimes — but it also makes life feel incredibly rich!

A quiet moment like this in Moore Park Beach is often enough to shift how everything feels.

Moments like that are actually a big part of what inspires my paintings — noticing those small, beautiful details that others might overlook.

I notice things other people don’t seem to register — and sometimes I wish I didn’t, because it can feel like it uses more of my energy.

Learning about high sensitivity didn’t change those things. But it helped me see them differently.

Instead of asking, Why am I so sensitive? I should be tougher…
I started thinking, Oh… this is just how my system works. I’m just wired a bit differently.

And that subtle shift actually made a big difference in my life.

What sensitivity actually feels like (for me — and maybe you?)

Being a highly sensitive person isn’t some abstract strength or weakness. It’s very practical.

It’s the way sound, light, emotion, and atmosphere register in my body.
It’s why I need quiet before I even realise I’m tired.
Why beauty can feel nourishing and exhausting at the same time.
Why I instinctively pull back rather than push through — like leaving a gathering early, needing to sit in silence after a busy day, or choosing a quiet night at home over something that feels like “too much”.

It’s also in the little things:

• Feeling slightly unsettled in a room and not knowing why — until you realise the lighting or energy feels off
• Replaying conversations in your head, wondering if you said the wrong thing
• Picking up on someone’s mood instantly, even when they say “I’m fine”
• Needing more time than others to process decisions or emotions
• Feeling deeply affected by music, films, or even a simple moment of kindness

None of these things seem like much on their own… but together, they shape how you move through the world.

Once I understood this, I stopped trying to fight it.

Having language changes everything

Having a name for being a highly sensitive person doesn’t box me in. It doesn’t define me.

It simply gives me a way to understand things — to myself first, and sometimes to others.
A word I can search to learn more about myself.
A word that replaces self-judgement with understanding.

Once something makes sense, you stop fighting it quite so hard 😉

In future posts, I’d love to share more about this — like why certain environments can feel draining (even when nothing “bad” is happening), and what recovery can look like — both for me, and maybe for you too.

I’d love to hear from you

Do you think you might be a highly sensitive person too?

Or maybe you’ve always felt “a bit different” but never quite had the words for it…

I’d love to hear your experience if you feel like sharing in the comments below 😊

x mimi