A shout out to the Highly Sensitive Man and Boy

It might be surprising to know that just as many males as females are Highly Sensitive.  So the estimate of 1 in 5 of the population being an HSP applies to us all.

We share similar challenges: our sensitivity is often seen as a weakness and attracts adverse comment and judgement.  So we hide and suppress a core part of what makes us tick.  A recipe for inner conflict and exhaustion.

But gender, cultural and societal expectations can make being an HS male particularly challenging.

In How Highly Sensitive Men Are Different From Highly Sensitive Women, Vanit Shah shares his belief that HS males are more likely to:

  • be cautious about expressing their feelings
  • put on a façade to impress people
  • take longer to accept their sensitivity as a ‘good’ trait, and
  • get defensive when someone points out their sensitive side.

Yet HS males are just what the world needs right now: an antidote to male toxicity, misogyny, bullying, ego, greed, selfishness and abuse of power.  As Mark Williams puts it in The Highly Sensitive Man: Understanding and Embracing a Misunderstood Trait:

‘Depth of feeling, intuitive understanding, and [a] thoughtful approach to life represent a form of masculinity that’s desperately needed in our often harsh and disconnected world’.

So what can HS males do to make peace with their innate sensitivity, its gifts and challenges?

In HSP Males: Navigating Life as a Highly Sensitive Man, the NeuroLaunch editorial team encourages HS men to unleash their hidden strengths – emotional intelligence, attention to detail, commitment to quality, ability to problem-solve and strong people skills.

And in an article about The Inner Compass of the Sensitive Man, Bill Allen talks in soulful terms about the quiet ache for more, leading a life of purpose not just metrics, and longing being something that signals what matters.

The articles mentioned here contain a mix of helpful tips for thriving as an HS man; redefining masculine strength; navigating different life areas; aligning values, purpose and everyday choices; and finding support and resources.

You could also have a look at books like Ted Zeff’s ‘The Strong Sensitive Boy’; Tom Falkenstein’s ‘The Highly Sensitive Man’; Graham Wilder’s ‘Sensitive Man’s Handbook: Tools for Emotional Resilience and Everyday Balance’; and Tracy Cooper’s ‘Empowering the Sensitive Male Soul’.

So, here’s to you, HS males.  May you replace missiles and malevolence with morality and meaning.  And embrace all and exactly who you are.  The world needs you.