Spring 2009 Newsletter - Your Foundation, Roots of Sensitivity, Observing the Reaction

March 31, 2009

Before You Spring Forward, Fortify Your Foundation!
A Reminder to Put Yourself at the Top of Your List

This spring, as you're mowing, fertilizing, or just plain working hard at all the things you do, remember the importance of taking care of your own needs. You might have to literally schedule some time to take a nap or shred up your "to-do" list in favor of something that feels like frivolous play. There is always the sensory treat of getting a massage and the divine relief of saying no to a commitment that you're dreading. You might even decide to talk to a trusted friend, family member or counselor about something you've been keeping inside way too long. All of these things are examples of self-care, and they are all perfectly acceptable, no matter what anyone else tells you.

Sensitive people have to work hard at putting themselves first. If the pull of your passions or your desire to help others keeps you from tending to yourself, I hope you do allow yourself the luxury of self-care this spring! Practicing self-care reinforces your strength, boosts your power and secures your firm footing for "springing ahead!" It is truly vital to your success (and longevity.)

Now, on to this newsletter issue. Today, we’ll cover Eckhart Tolle’s technique of “observing the reaction.” We’ll also look at the physical roots of sensitivity. And lastly, we'll find a link to chapters 1-15 of my personal story of growing up sensitive in the 70's and 80's.

Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter. I hope it leaves you with some tools to access and experience the peace, contentment and inner power that lies inside you.
Warmly,

Jen

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Why Am I Sensitive, Exactly?
Understanding the Roots of Heightened Sensitivity

If you're extra perceptive, you were likely born with an intricately developed nervous system. This extensive network of nerves might have formed because you or your parent experienced a trauma while you were developing, during the birth, or as you were parented.

Or you might be part of the percentage of sensitives who never experienced early life traumas, but still developed or inherited a sensitive nervous system. So you too, have a strong sixth sense, a high level of empathy, a complex and creative mind, and a strong desire to understand the world and your place in it.

It's empowering when we can understand the physiological reasons why we're sensitive. Knowing we have an intricate network of nerves in our bodies confirms why our bodies pick up on so many subtle things. It's our nerves that signal a greater number of thoughts and feelings to our brain in each moment. And that validates why we can get overwhelmed more quickly than other people who experience the same amount of stimulation. Our brains simply process many more subtle details. That's our mechanism. Once we see the nuts and bolts of how our system works, it can help us see ourselves anew--for the brave, fascinating, and rare creatures that we are!

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Fine-Tuned Sensitivity: From Reaction to Intuition
A Technique in Awareness

Your ability to sense things is so precious and so needed by the world. And the more you sharpen your abilities, the more your deep perception can truly be of service.

The following is an excerpt from a transcript of Eckhart Tolle's 2008 A New Earth online class. Here, the Tolle describes how to turn repeated reactions into empowered awareness. You can use this technique of observing yourself without judgment whenever you get emotionally triggered (remember, an emotional reaction also includes denying or turning off your emotions altogether.)

By stepping back and observing yourself as you react, you can more clearly see some new choices that can free you from a recurring cycle of getting triggered and reacting. Bringing conscious presence to the moment of the reaction allows you to transcend past pain, communicate your needs in a loving way, and awaken your empowered, intuitive self.

Eckhart Tolle says: “…So sensitivity is actually lost when you're reactive, and true sensitivity comes when you are absolutely present in a situation and see, "This is how it is," and you totally face the situation as it is. It's only when you internally don't resist a situation, then the intuitive faculties arise within you.

“As long as you internally resist a situation, (and reactivity's always some form of resistance) then the intuitive faculties cannot really come in because you're acting out old conditioning.

“Intuition comes out of presence; out of the present moment. So bringing presence to a situation means you become absolutely sensitive. And that's also a deeper aliveness and a deeper power than what looks like power and aliveness when you observe somebody reacting. Sometimes it might look very passionate, but really they are acting out their past conditioning.

“That's not true passion, it's (your old beliefs, fears and attachments) wanting this or that from the situation; wanting to manipulate the situation, wanting to get something out of the situation, whatever, but not being truly present. So it's only through presence that the true sensitivity is there."

If you would like to learn more about empowerment techniques that involve observing the mind, the books As You Think by James Allen & Marc Allen; and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle are two of my favorite resources.

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Putting Feelings Into Words: Your Free Gift
15 Chapters from Help Is On Its Way - A Memoir About Growing Up Sensitive

As you grew up sensitive, did you feel frustrated by not being able to explain your overwhelming feelings? Were you often asked the question, "What's wrong?" Did you ever find the words to explain your "big picture" way of thinking?

My inner-child created an answer to those questions and it's now in your hands--(at least 15 chapters of it.) You never know, your inner child might really enjoy re-examining, re-living and releasing some of the forgotten childhood questions and passions that once made you laugh and cry.

Through the process of publishing this book, I learned a great formula for accessing my empowered self: 1) Tell the truth about how you feel. 2) Have those feelings validated and surrender them to a higher power. 3) Awaken into your new self.

Click the link below to open the PDF.
http://www.jennaforrest.com/media/chapters.pdf

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This Month's Book Picks:

For Parents:
Raising Intuitive Children by Dr. Caron Goode and Tara Patterson

For Teachers:
Living With Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Gifted Children, Adolescents, and Adults by Susan Daniels

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A Coach With Heart. Support is Here.

Coaching spaces have been opened for sensitive, empathic, intuitive adults like you.

Sessions are held by phone or video conference.

Please email to ask any questions or to reserve your appointment.

Client confidentiality is assured.
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Jenna's mission is to help people access their full potential. She uses a revolutionary technique in her personal coaching -- that of reflecting the vast capacity each person possesses. Her book Help Is On Its Way-A Memoir About Growing Up Sensitive was published in 2008 to introduce the topic of high sensitivity to mainstream audiences.

Thanks for Reading!

Copyright 2009 Jenna Forrest. All Rights Reserved.
For permission to duplicate portions of this newsletter, please email the office.

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