Are you naturally absorbent or naturally resistant?
Some people are just more sensitive to their environment than others. Some of us cannot endure horror films because we can feel the horror in our every cell of our being–while others can watch the gore with a fascination and sense of entertainment and the full awareness that it’s not real.
There is no right or wrong way to be, but being aware of your natural wiring in this area can be very helpful because you may be on one extreme or the other without realizing it. People who are highly sensitive to their environment benefit from their natural wiring because they tend to empathize with others and pick up on subtle communication clues that others might miss. Those who are naturally able to resist environmental stimuli are great in a crisis and can use their skills to be highly observant of details that others might miss.
Sensitive types might need to set boundaries so that they are not in a constant state of overstimulation. Pay attention to what pushes you over the edge emotionally, and try to move toward the middle of the scale to environmental resilience. Your sensitivity is only a gift if it doesn’t lead to dramatic ups and downs.
Resistant types might need to make a point of being more aware of what is going on around them and what is happening beyond the facts. Make a point of noticing the people-aspect of situations and also try to move toward the environmental resilience section of the scale. Your ability to resist being affected by your environment is only a gift if it does not lead to being checked-out.
