How Your Sensitivity Supports You As A Creative (And How To Make The Most Of It)

Like introversion, it’s exciting that the personality trait of high sensitivity, which has historically been seen as a drawback, is garnering intrigue and appreciation. Finally! We are seen! As a highly sensitive person, I will be the first to admit that this part of my personality has brought complexity (read: challenges) to my life. But the more I learn about it, the more I see how to harness the benefits of my sensitivity, and deepen my understanding of it to address the ways I’m challenged by it (like when handling criticism).

Highly sensitive people, do you also identify as a creative? Lately I’ve been considering how sensitivity influences my work as a creative, and I’m finding that it supports me in ways I hadn’t known before.

You see from a perspective many don’t

It is estimated that highly sensitive people comprise about 15-20% of the population, so the lens through which HSPs view the world is certainly different than most. And as all of us who have felt a little different throughout our lives know, there is no creative motivation like a unique point of view. Why not use this “outsider” position to explore complex themes?

You are endlessly curious

There are two reasons highly sensitive people tend to be curious people. First is that we take in more stimuli at once than our non-sensitive counterparts. Sensitivity doesn’t just refer to emotion–far from it. We can be sensitive to all sorts of inputs (which is why sometimes we feel overwhelmed in situations that others may not be). Having more information coming at us gives us more to be curious about.

Secondly, that unique perspective I mentioned above often fuels our curiosity–we want to know why we notice, process, and reflect on things that others breeze by. While a lot of this curiosity helps us get to know ourselves, it also leads us to learn a lot about others and the world around us, paving the way for exploration within our creative work and hobbies.

You are motivated by personal growth

Like I mentioned, a lot of that curiosity we feel leads us to explore our own inner landscapes as beings. I think that’s why so many of us sensitives are motivated internally by the idea of growth and personal development. Not only do we want to know why we are the way we are, we want to know how we can better ourselves–but not in a superficial sense. Personal growth for us is more about cultivating self compassion and acceptance–something that may be difficult for those of us once seen as outsiders because of our sensitivity. If you’re a highly sensitive person who values creativity, then you naturally prioritize creative acts as integral to your growth.

You solve problems differently

One of the many reasons sensitivity should be valued in the workplace is because we bring a more creative attitude toward problem solving to the table. We simply do not view problems the same way as the majority of the population. In the past, society has focused on the detrimental aspects of our differences from the majority–such as bringing emotion into professional decisions, or withdrawing from over-stimulating environments, but for every perceived drawback to being sensitive there is a benefit. Complex problems require creative solutions, and sometimes it’s the least conventional idea that proves effective.

Simply put, having a fresh perspective is always a benefit when solving problems, so a mixture of highly sensitive and less sensitive people collaborating is actually best!

You’re methodical about what you do

This last point is one that may set highly sensitive creatives apart from their not-so-sensitive counterparts. Highly sensitive people are more likely to think things through and gather all the info available to them before making a decision. Creativity is often seen as a spontaneous act (and play is certainly a vital part of creativity), but sensitive people like to look at problems from all angles, exploring all the possibilities, before making decisions.

If you hate being put on the spot, this might be why–you much prefer to think through responses before giving them. When it comes to creativity, this might mean spending more time in the dreaming and planning phases, or perhaps organizing projects differently. Again, this isn’t better or worse than how less sensitive creatives produce, just different. There’s always the possibility to overthink or get stuck, but sometimes our thoughtful process can lead to really beautiful, considered ideas.

Highly sensitive people, do you consider yourself creative, too? How do your creativity and sensitivity intersect, and when are they at odds? While I haven’t made time for it lately, I love to explore this topic on an experimental Instagram account, @thecreativehsp. Follow along if you’re curious!