The Sensitive Man - Being Highly Sensitive and Creative: Exploring the Link Between Two Traits

 
A Blog about Sensory Processing Sensitivity from the Worldview of a High-Sensing Male

 Total words: 995, Time to read: 4.11 minutes
 
Have you ever found yourself lost in creative pursuits as a highly sensitive person, feeling like you see the world differently than others? Yet, did you know your high sensitivity could be a gift that fuels your creativity? In this article, we'll explore the link between being highly sensitive and being creative, delving into the deep processing ability, emotional sensitivity, keen observational skills, great empathy, and the uncanny ability to connect the dots on disparate pieces of sensory inputs that are often associated with highly sensitive people.
 
The Roots of Your Sensitivity
 
Highly sensitive people (HSPs) are individuals born with a nervous system that is more finely tuned to sensory stimuli than others. Finely tuned systems were made for creative endeavors. As a result, HSPs process sensory information more deeply and thoroughly and may feel overwhelmed by sensory inputs that others don't even notice.
 
What It Means to Be Creative
 
Creativity is the ability to generate novel ideas or solutions, often by combining existing concepts or information in new and unexpected ways. It can manifest in many forms, including art, music, writing, problem-solving, and innovation.
 
How Are High Sensitivity and Creativity Linked?
 
Because HSPs are such deep thinkers, they may be more likely to notice subtle nuances and details in their environment that others overlook. This heightened sensitivity to sensory data can fuel creative expression, as HSPs may be more attuned to their inner emotional and imaginative worlds and can translate these experiences into artistic or creative endeavors.
 
The Deep Dive into the Deep Processing Ability of Highly Sensitive People
 
Deep Processing
 
Deep processing refers to the cognitive ability to analyze information thoroughly and reflectively. This type of processing involves sustained attention, critical thinking, and introspection. Reaching a flow state can facilitate the connection between deeply processed information, inputs, and, ultimately, original outputs. And given the time and space, HSPs can learn easily to reach a flow state.
 
Explanation of How Highly Sensitive People Have This Ability
 
HSPs tend to process sensory information more deeply and play out more scenarios in their minds, which can also translate into deep cognitive information processing. In addition, because they are more attuned to their inner experiences, they may be more reflective and introspective, allowing them to engage in deeper levels of cognition.
 
Examples of How This Ability Can Lead to Creativity
 
HSPs may be able to connect seemingly unrelated concepts or ideas, leading to innovative solutions or novel artistic expressions. They may also be able to bring a unique perspective to their creative pursuits, incorporating their deep understanding of sensory inputs and emotional experiences into their work.
 
Emotional Sensitivity
 
Emotional sensitivity refers to the ability to perceive, understand, and express emotions in oneself and others.
 
HSPs are often more attuned to their own emotions and the emotions of others due to their heightened functioning of mirror neurons. This ability to mirror others' internal state may make HSPs more empathic and compassionate and able to pick up on subtle emotional cues that others miss.
 
HSPs may use their emotional sensitivity to fuel their creative expression, drawing on their own emotional experiences or empathizing with the emotions of others to create art, music, writing, or other forms of creative expression that resonate deeply with others.
 
Keen Observational Skills
 
Keen observational skills refer to noticing subtle details and nuances in one's environment, often leading to a deeper understanding of a situation or object. More data often leads to better and more creative outcomes.
 
With HSPs, our heightened awareness can translate into a natural ability to notice and appreciate the details around us. A sensory awareness, if you will. This can be due to our natural inclination to process information more cautiously and thoroughly and to be more attuned to our surroundings. Environmental impacts can spur creative thinking, sometimes needed in survival mode, but it can lead to clever solutions to everyday problems in everyday practice.
 
HSPs may use their keen observational skills to create art that captures the beauty and details of their environment or to find innovative solutions to problems by noticing minute details and grasping abstractions that others may have missed. Or simply put, it provides them with the ability to appreciate and comprehend the aesthetics of art.
 
Great Empathy
 
 
Empathy refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, often resulting in an increased sense of connection and understanding.
 
HSPs may be more empathic by processing the emotional signals of those around them. As a result, they may be more able to pick up on subtle emotional cues and understand the feelings and experiences of others.
 
HSPs may use their empathic abilities to create work that captures the emotions and experiences of others or to find innovative solutions to problems by considering the perspectives and experiences of those around them.
 
Connecting the Dots on Disparate Pieces of Sensory Inputs
 
Connecting the dots refers to seeing connections between seemingly unrelated information or experiences. This may involve seeing patterns, understanding seemingly imperceptible relationships, or free-forming experimental modes of thinking.
 
HSPs may be more able to connect the dots due to their natural inclination to process more data inputs. By playing out scenarios in their heads, they can internally test strategies before coming to a solution or conclusion. They may also be more attuned to their environment and experiences, allowing them to draw connections between seemingly unrelated pieces of sensory input.
 
HSPs may use their ability to connect the dots to create innovative or novel art or find new solutions to problems by synthesizing information and experiences uniquely.
 
Because of this, being highly sensitive and creative are two traits often linked together.
 
While being highly sensitive can sometimes be challenging, it can also be a gift allowing unique and innovative creative expression. By embracing their sensitivity and using it as a tool for creative expression, HSPs can tap into their full potential as artists, innovators, and problem-solvers.