Life as a Highly Sensitive Person with Erica Webb
Today’s podcast is an exploration of life as a Highly Sensitive Person (or HSP) with my friend and colleague Erica Webb. Erica and I sat down for a deep dive into our shared experience of high sensitivity, and how we work with these traits in ourselves.
Episode Details:
Being a Highly Sensitive Person is something I’ve personally been looking at more closely over the last several months, and I knew that Erica had been speaking about HSP more, as well. So, I reached out and asked if she’d like to do a joint episode that we would each share on our podcasts, and this conversation is the result!
You’ll hear our stories of living life as a Highly Sensitive Person, and how we’ve learned to embrace our HSP traits and honor our HSP needs. We cover some basic definitions, and quite a few nuances of being highly sensitive.
Aspects of life as a Highly Sensitive Person that we touch on:
- how HSP relates to being introverted or an empath
- differences in how our brains and nervous systems process sensory stimuli
- why understanding our HSP needs helps us release self-criticism and be kinder to ourselves
- how honoring our sensitivity doesn’t mean making our lives smaller or living in a bubble.
Erica and I also share our favorite movement and meditation practices (as well as life strategies and communication skills!) for regulating our sensitive nervous systems and building more capacity to engage with the world.
I hope you’ll find some insight, and perhaps validation, as you listen to our stories in this episode!
Guest Bio:
Erica Webb is is a mindful movement coach who uses Somatic Exercise, Yoga and Mat Pilates to support people to shift tension and reconnect with their body through a lens of self-kindness and curiosity. Erica’s approach to movement is one that centers simplicity and gently moving beyond our subconscious habits. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Erica is also a registered Counsellor with a background in Behavioral Science, and she’s known for emphasizing kindness and compassion in all facets of movement practice – from how we motivate ourselves through self-talk, and how we make choices on the mat.
Resources for Life as a Highly Sensitive Person:
To connect further with Erica Webb, check out her website and listen to her podcast, SelfKind with Erica Webb! You can also follow her on Instagram @ericawebb_selfkind.
- Hear Erica talk about Somatic Movement on an earlier episode of my podcast in Episode 14: Somatics and Self-Kindness with Erica Webb.
- The book The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron, the researcher who originated the term
- Another good book about HSP (more recent) – Sensitive: The Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World by Jenn Granneman and Andre Solo
- A few self tests you can take if you’re curious about HSP – Sensitivity Scale (Julie Bjelland) or Elaine Aron’s original HSP quiz
Share Movement, Mindfulness, and Community!
If you are interested in sharing movement-based mindfulness practices with others, take a look at the Mindful Movement Teacher Training! The next round of this online training program begins in October, and the application period is now open.