Are You Hyper-Sensitive? Is It Worth It?

Published on
October 2021

Feeling offended and expressing outrage is now all the rage, affecting every aspect of our lives. Of course, short fuses and limited tolerance have their place when an offense is serious and damaging. But in my inner elegance coaching practice, there's an increasing hypersensitivity to perceived and actual slights that's become the issue dominating relationships, causing unnecessary pain and confusion.

The emotional tripwires created by this heightened sensitivity are becoming increasingly complex to navigate. The last thing most of us want is to offend (particularly loved ones), which ironically plays right into the hands of those who understand the power of being deliberately offensive for their ends. The offense can only be caused when we are quick to take offense. Politicians, for example, understand this only too well. The sting is instant, and it's a cheap way to make a splash or feel superior without making any effort.

So, why are we so easy to offend? Rudeness, blame, bullying, condescension, discrimination, and shaming trigger numerous negative feelings, from outrage and resentment to hurt and humiliation. Feeling unjustly treated or judged this way kicks in our primitive survival impulse: "How dare they?"

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