If These 10 Things Sound Familiar, You're Part Of A Rare Strong-But-Sensitive Personality Type
Being strong and being sensitive aren't mutually exclusive, but they do pack a powerful punch when combined.
Leah hetteberg | Unsplash Being a strong and sensitive person may seem contradictory when you think about it. How can you stand up for yourself and others if you get shy every time someone is looking at you? Being strong isn't always about being the loudest or the biggest person in the room. It's about how you treat others and how you look at life. Someone sensitive and strong may not always know what to say at the right time, but they'll always be a shoulder for you to cry on and be someone who listens.
A combination of such personalities makes you a sharp person who is also in tune with their feelings and emotions. In short, you are at an advantage when it comes to dealing with everyday life. As a strong person, you can handle anything life throws at you.
Pair that with sensitivity, and you become more sympathetic to those around you. To be a strong but sensitive person, you have traits that encompass sensitivity to the feelings of others as well as emotional strength. Individuals with this personality exhibit specific traits like resilience, determination, and assertiveness, as well as being attuned to the emotions and needs of those around them.
Here are ten things that make you part of a strong but sensitive personality type:
1. You get overwhelmed — but don't let it stop you
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Yeah, sometimes the world is an overwhelming place. But you don't let it kill you. That's the strength.
You feel your feelings, sure, but at the end of the day, you're a fighter who doesn't give up. Clinical hypnotherapist Keya Murthy recommended taking part in daily exercises and slight lifestyle changes to combat the overwhelm of everyday life.
"When you feel that your world is crumbling and you're all alone and defeated, it’s time to commit yourself to a healthier lifestyle," Murthy said. "When you create a practice and commit yourself to it, the universe conspires on your behalf."
2. You call people out — but only when it's deserved
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But only when they deserve it. You're in touch with your feelings and know when someone deserves to be called out. You're sensitive, so you have an acute awareness of details.
When done constructively, research from The Pew Research Center found that this practice can have advantages, such as holding individuals accountable for harmful behavior, promoting social change by raising awareness of problematic actions, and potentially prompting self-reflection and behavior modification in the person being called out.
3. You love to meet new people — but loathe small talk
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You don't go out with just any dude from Tinder. You don't do small talk on the first date. You want real human interactions! It makes finding a date a little bit harder and getting a call back from a date more difficult, but it's still worth it for you.
4. You're not a complainer — but you don't put up with nonsense
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Being a strong but sensitive person means standing up for yourself. While this can be scary, it can also be worth it. A 2022 study found that while you can expect to feel some guilt, you can acknowledge it and remind yourself that it's not relevant or helpful.
Being sensitive means knowing when to defend yourself. If you complain, it's not because you're annoying; it's because the world is too full of people who don't quite get it.
5. You're a good listener — but love being listened to as well
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You know how nice it is to be listened to as a sensitive person. So, in that sense, you know the importance of being a good listener, too. For you, it's easy to shut up, tune everything else out, and lend an ear to a friend.
When sharing the habits of good listeners, psychologist Nick Wignall found that this habit is about what you do less of, not more of. "Truly great listeners don’t necessarily do more of anything than the rest of us. Instead, they’re exceptionally good at eliminating unhelpful tendencies and habits that get in the way of genuine listening and connection," Wignall explained.
6. You're extremely caring — but don't let people walk all over you
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Because of your kindness, you are naturally attuned to the emotions and needs of others, whether friends, family members, or strangers. This allows you to foster strong, lasting connections with people who are naturally drawn to you.
Research published in the Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice found this can lead to stronger relationships, increased well-being for both the giver and receiver, and a potential reduction in stress and anxiety levels. Essentially, acts of kindness can create a positive feedback loop in social interactions, encouraging others to care.
7. You're honest — but never cross the line into callousness
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While many people are blunt about their honest opinions, you value honesty and transparency, but in a way where there's a delicate balance between them. Because of your sensitive side, you know the impact your words can have on others. —
8. You love to learn — but love to teach what you know as well
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Your strong personality gives you a thirst for knowledge and personal growth, fueled by your sensitive side that is incredibly curious. But you want more than just what you can learn in textbooks — you seek to understand the intricacies of the world around you!
9. You respect yourself — but have healthy boundaries
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Because you're sensitive and strong, it's no wonder you have healthy boundaries to protect your emotional well-being. You channel your sensitive nature into self-improvement, recognize your worth, and do what you can to ensure that your feelings and experiences don't set you off course.
Self-respect is a significant personality trait strongly linked to positive outcomes, such as healthy relationships, strong personal values, better decision-making, and overall well-being. In 2022 research published in Current Psychology, researchers found that people with high self-respect tend to have a strong sense of individual dignity and are likelier to uphold their morals and set healthy boundaries.
10. You aren't immune to being hurt — but you're resilient
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Despite your deep emotions and sensitivity, you possess an inner strength and resilience that enables you to bounce back from challenges. You acknowledge and process your feelings, find ways to adapt and grow as a person, and use emotional tools to emerge even stronger.
Resilience is a personality trait strongly associated with the Big Five personality dimensions. A 2022 study found that it mainly correlates positively with extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience, while negatively correlated with neuroticism tend to exhibit lower resilience.
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