How a Workbook Changed my Life.
The story of how I realized I was a highly sensitive person.
The world is an overwhelming and tiring place to the gentle hearts and sensitive souls.
As someone with high sensitivity, I know that all too well. But there are pockets of beauty and rest if you know where to look for them, and it seems like you’ve found one.
Welcome to Dear Gentle Heart, a publication written to be your refuge from the busyness of this world.
The year is 2022. I’d just finished reading The Gold in These Hills by Joanne Bischof, and the story impacted me like nothing else I’d read up to that point. The prose had a lilting feeling I loved, and the characters felt real. I knew without a doubt that I’d found my new favourite author and that I needed to read every one of her books I could get my hands on.
(Three years later, I’ve done just that, but that’s not the topic of this post. 😉)
As I was looking through her backlist, I saw she’d published a workbook. It was called The Highly Sensitive Heart: a 14-day workbook of self-discovery & joy. The workbook was for people with high sensitivity.
At the time, I didn’t think much of it—I didn’t have any idea of what high sensitivity was, nor did I put much effort into finding out just then. But as I continued reading her stories and finding myself connecting more and more to them, I started looking into what high sensitivity was.
It wasn’t long before I realised I related an awful lot to the traits of high sensitivity. But what did that mean for me? I wasn’t sure.
My parents gifted me the workbook the following Christmas, yet I didn’t actually start working through it until March of 2024. But those fourteen days completely changed my life.
In my own words, written down in my journal on the final day, I gained clarity. I realised there was nothing wrong with me. I simply experienced the world differently, and that was okay.
Since then, I’ve done some other research into high sensitivity, mostly through the website and books of Dr. Elaine Aron—the lady who began researching high sensitivity in the 1990s—but this workbook is the one thing I return to over and over again.
I’ve worked through it twice, reread and highlighted whole sections, and plan to do another proper workthrough soon. I gain new things every time, and come out of it encouraged to let my sensitivity shine through everything I do and to let it enrich my life. 🌻
Just a short post today, but I felt led to share my story. I hope it was able to be a source of encouragement for you, if nothing else. I highly recommend you look into The Highly Sensitive Heart workbook if you’re looking for a resource on your journey!
~ Jessica
Now it’s your turn—tell me your story. 🤍
P.S. Dear Gentle Heart Updates/Housekeeping
It’s been amazing writing for you all every week, and I’ve so enjoyed putting together these posts for you. 🤍 That being said, there are a few new things I want to try out, and would love your help & feedback as I implement it all!
I’m enabling paid subscriptions. My weekly posts will be free for all my subscribers for up to four weeks after publication. After this, they will only be accessible with a paid subscription. Paid subscribers will also have the benefit of article voiceovers like the one on this post. 😉
What I’m most excited to offer as part of a paid subscription is the Dear Gentle Heart Advice Column! 🥳 Do you have questions about living with high sensitivity, relationships, work, purpose, God, mental health, and other subjects? Write me! Similar to my usual articles, write a question, and I’ll do my best to give you helpful answers and advice here on Substack!
💌 Send your questions to deargentleheart@gmail.com 💌 I’ll be looking for them!