Please help with sensitivity
 
   Ricky: All of my life, I've been very sensitive to my surroundings, peoples 
emotions, and chaos.
   BeiYin: Maybe first we should reflect about what it means to be 'sensitive'. Every
alive system and even more general: every existing form, probably even on all
existing levels, is sensitive against everything which might influence their
existence, as a negative or positive influence. It is connected with the very basic
need to survive. (Later on we might need to find out what it means 'to survive'.)
A system with less sensitivity has less possibilities to survive. The defense
reaction, closing up against possible hostile influences, which might be unknown or known from previous experience as dangerous, might come too late to protect the
system if the system is not sensitive enough. On the other hand a certain openness
is also necessary to survive. It depends on the evolution of the system, if there is
more openness and so more possibilities to survive, this requires at the same time
more sensitivity. If there is no or very little sensitivity then in the same relation there are no reactions or very little, mainly serving to defend the system.
A stone is defending itself by having a rigid and hard structure, there is very little openness and hardly any reactions. I guess being a stone is already the result of a reaction which happened long before, when the system was still open and vulnerable.
There are people like stones, they became stones because they reacted to influences from the outside and have chosen to close up, becoming less sensitive and so can't that easy be hurt. We are surrounded by people who are reacting similar and it is sad to watch all these zombies and insensitive people. They are also mostly little expressive. They don't allow influences to enter and in the same way they are not capable to express themselves. To show themselves they would need to open up.
But they can't, they  have chosen to protect themselves by making themselves numb,
insusceptible and insensitive. They might feel like victims, but they have chosen to
react like this out of their own decision, although this happens unconsciously.
Dealing with such people, - we should not forget that there are many like this,
maybe most of all humans, - so it will not help them and not ourselves in our
relation to them, if we don't treat them as sensible as we can. If we are not
carefully with them, then they will close up even more or react in their way to
protect themselves. We should always be aware of this and not see their behavior and reactions as a personal attack against us. Otherwise we will react in the same way by closing up and defending ourselves. Let's stay open and see the other person in a different light, what will allow us to respond differently, what will open up the other person as well, at least there are more possibilities to find a way out of the personal straitjacket.
So we can see that sensitivity is a growing condition on our walk through evolution. Wanting to reduce this would mean to cut oneself off from an amplified life,
reducing oneself in one's awareness and most of one's abilities.
When you feel that you can't deal with reality because you are too sensitive, that
probably means that you feel uncomfortable with your own reactions arising by
encountering your daily life circumstances. You can try to withdraw from these
circumstances, many people not being able to avoid them withdraw by reducing their awareness, manipulating themselves with techniques or chemicals, - making
themselves numb.
The key to be able to deal with our daily reality lays in our attitude towards
people and their rambling or chaotic circumstances. Why we are reacting? Probably being disgusted. Why we are disgusted? This is our world, it is in many aspects very disgusting. That's what it is, this is a fact and we can struggle and fight against it and feel frustrated, uncomfortable and disappointed. We might even suffer and feel unhappy,  up to such an extend that we fall into deep depression. Why?
Because we don't feel at home in a world of chaos? But this is our home, you might
like it or not. If you are an artist, then you are a creative person and you are
capable to use the chaos to create your own expression. Didn't 'God' create this
world and all beings out of the chaos? I am not that familiar with the bible stuff
(I'm not a Christian) but isn't it written that God made human similar to
him(her?)self? That would mean being able to create out of the chaos something
new, a personal expression going beyond the chaos?
Again: It might be your attitude towards the chaos what makes it difficult to deal
with it and you are not yet capable to relate in a creative way to it. Can you have
a look at this?
OK, I said that the world is like it is. So we might accept it like it is and see
what we can do with it, the best way possible. Fighting against circumstances
because they are not like we want them to be, seems in the most cases a wasting of
energy. Wanting to change the world might be an idealistic idea, but might be an
escape from the inevitable confrontation with oneself.
Let's say we accept the world and people like they are. Not out of resignation, but
with the positive view that whatever there is, is the best it can be at this moment.
Now, this will not avoid that we are still reacting, that means that we will feel
disgusted or whatever. But now maybe we will be able to look at our own reaction and realize that we are reacting because we still are NOT accepting what shows up. This is the moment when we can make a conscious decision, because we can see that our reaction comes out of our personal structure, programmed and conditioned from our past. Remember, for this we need our sensitivity, so be thankful that you have it!
Don't complain that you are suffering because of your sensitivity, this is the
vehicle you need for your journey... Is this clearer now?
   Ricky: Years ago, I began meditating, and it was a considerable relief in centering myself and releasing tension, as well as a great enhancement to worshiping and communing with God. However, meditation has always made me more sensitive to the outside world. Although, it has nourished compassion, I find that I get more irritated and intolerant towards outside ramble, when someone rambles aimlessly, or when I'm in chaotic situations.
   BeiYin: Meditation is important and will help a lot on the path. But it is not an
escape or better said it shouldn't be one. It is an awareness training. You can learn to accept what shows up and this in a relatively secure situation, so you can relax and open yourself. As one of the results you will be more sensitive and as we know by now, this will further you on your path...
   Ricky: It is not a problem when I meditate, only when I am not.
   BeiYin: Of course, because when you meditate then you have excluded the outside world with it's provocation and reactions triggering influences. You only have to deal with what shows up during your meditation and it depends on your meditation 'technique' how you deal with that or not. Now when you know that the 'problems' are problems because of your attitude towards what shows up in your daily life and that 'problems' are telling you that the way you are dealing with 'outside' circumstances should be checked and maybe seen in a different and more positive view, then your 'sensitivity' will serve you to respond in the best creative way. To further your growing process in these daily details and will make you feel happier in general.
   Ricky: There are several protection techniques that I know, but none have seemed to help.
   BeiYin: It seems to me that you are protected from a higher level against those
'protection techniques'. You don't need any kind of manipulation to protect yourself.
That doesn't mean that you can't choose where you go and with which people
you are gathering. You don't need to share your time and space with somebody you
don't feel comfortable with. Right? Take care of yourself but you don't need to
'protect' yourself. You are protected, trust yourself!
I hope that this can serve as a 'stepping stone' and helps you and others to do the next step with eyes more open...
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