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Home » Elena Herdieckerhoff: The Gentle Power of Highly Sensitive People at TEDxIHEParis (Transcript)

Elena Herdieckerhoff: The Gentle Power of Highly Sensitive People at TEDxIHEParis (Transcript)

Elena Herdieckerhoff at TEDxIHEParis

Watch and read the full transcript of Elena Herdieckerhoff’s TEDx Talk: The Gentle Power of Highly Sensitive People at TEDxIHEParis conference.

Listen to the MP3 Audio: the-gentle-power-of-highly-sensitive-people-by-elena-herdieckerhoff-at-tedxiheparis

TRANSCRIPT: 

Elena Herdieckerhoff – Founder of Entreprincess

I’m a highly sensitive person. What’s the first thing you think about when I tell you that? That I must be shy and introverted? Or perhaps very emotional? Or maybe even that you need to walk on eggshells around me?

The common assumption about highly sensitive people is that we are somehow weak and fragile creatures who picked a losing ticket in the genetic lottery of life. You can see this in action when you google the word ‘sensitive’. You will see images of toothache, irritated skin, wilted dandelions, and crying people. Sensitivity clearly has a PR problem. Today I want to help change that.

Maybe by now you’re wondering what is it like to be highly sensitive? I invite you to imagine living with all of your senses on high alert. You also have a vivid inner world, where all of your emotions are magnified. Sadness is a deep sorrow, and joy is pure ecstasy. You also care beyond reason and empathize without limits. Imagine being in permanent osmosis with everything around you.

Highly sensitive people often hear things like: “You are too sensitive,” “Stop taking everything to heart,” or my favorite, “You should really toughen up.” The fundamental message is clear: to be highly sensitive is to be highly flawed. I used to agree with that. I always thought I should come with some sort of warning sign or a disclaimer: “careful; highly sensitive.”

Now, let me share with you a few of the perks of being a highly sensitive person. For one, I have an intensely overactive mind, which means it’s impossible to switch off.