Sensitivity: The Most Elegant Kind of Intelligence

My sensitivity gives me away. If I let tears fall down my face in front of someone else, I feel vulnerable. If I give you a hug and you reject me, I feel small. If I go to kiss you and you move away, I feel like I shouldn’t show my feelings.

But sensitivity towards another human, or an animal, or music, or the beauty of a painting or a sculpture, is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of intelligence in every one of us. That’s why we shouldn’t ever get embarrassed over who we are or for showing our feelings.

People with high sensitivity

Some people react to their surroundings with a lot of sensitivity. They’re capable of understanding everything that happens, they observe very carefully, and sometimes they take on the feelings of other people. Highly sensitive people have the following defining characteristics:

Sensitivity to criticism

Criticizing a highly sensitive person can hurt them, because they are easily affected by negative opinions, which can make them feel really bad. But that shouldn’t prevent other people from criticizing them in a constructive way, with intelligent comments and opinions.

Sensitivity to environments and places

Sensitive people notice small details in any environment: smells, colors, sounds, etc. Very loud sounds and places with a lot of people tend to bother them or make them uncomfortable.

On the other hand, they’re particularly delicate, and their capacity for observation allows them to especially appreciate the beauty of places, peacefulness, soft sounds, etc.

They enjoy moments of solitude

Highly sensitive people need time to enjoy to themselves, to reflect on their existence, to ask themselves questions, and to observe the little things in life.

They get involved with things they are passionate about

When they get passionate about something, their level of involvement is very strong, and they tend to transmit this enthusiasm to the people around them, because passion is contagious. When this occurs, they transmit positive feelings to others and enjoy every second of life.

They help others

Highly sensitive people tend to be empathetic. They identify with other people and learn how to put themselves in other people’s shoes. They tend to help others and care about what happens to the people around them.

They have a big imagination

Sensitive people tend to gaze absentmindedly at a landscape, a work of art, another person’s beauty…They tend to have a big imagination and get carried away by their thoughts, which is why they sometimes need solitude so they can feel all their dreams and ideas to the fullest.

Sensitivity and intelligence

Sensitivity towards beauty, people, places, and one’s environment is a common characteristic of intelligent people. Some studies have shown that gifted adults express a high level of sensitivity due to their superior aesthetic abilities.

As humans, we must be sensitive towards the suffering of other people. Without sensitivity, we wouldn’t be able to face problems and find solutions. We tend to let everyday problems occupy our minds, but it’s important to find a moment to ourselves and be able to connect with our deepest selves and with others.

Sensitivity is a demonstration of intelligence, of one’s way of seeing and enjoying the world. That’s why we must let it seep into every pore of our skin. We must let ourselves smile and cry because of it, because of feeling.