A superb book that examines the problems (oops! my boss would correct me immediately for that word - 'opportunities') that beset the lives of people who have a high level of spiritual sensitivity. Some might call it 'empathy', others 'burden-bearing'. I once heard a pyschologist say about it: about one in seven people have it and they think they're crazy - the other six-sevenths know they are. It raised a laugh but unredeemed burden-bearing is no laughing matter. That is, a natural tendency to sense things in their spirit, which can predispose them toward being receptive to supernatural gifts such as word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and prophecy.) HSP’s, with their heightened ability to observe the outward signs of others’ pain, often to try to be as perfect as possible to make others happy.

HSPs’ ability to process so much through their five senses and to imagine detailed situations inspires a craving to find answers to the mysteries of life. They might ask, “Why are things the way they are?” “What is my role in the grand scheme of life?” They wonder why others aren’t as concerned as they are about such questions. As children, their penchant for deep thinking may have inspired them to daydream or to create imaginary friends or fantasy play. As adults, their dreams may be very vivid. Highly Sensitive: Understanding Your Gift of Spiritual Sensitivity is a valuable companion piece to Carol Brown’s previous book, The Mystery of Spiritual Sensitivity . This volume not only provides a precise summary of the topics covered in the prequel (true identity, burden bearing, aspects of high sensitivity, healing), but counsels you on the steps and spiritual practices that will help you—the “highly sensitive burden bearer” to shine in your gifting. Burden bearers also ask such questions and often do all these things, but more out of a deep searching in their spirit to understand and articulate the mysteries of what they sense around them. Burden bearers are more affected by what they sense in their spirit than by what they physically experience, so such experiences don’t make them as jumpy—unless, for instance, they sense something troubling or sinister in the person who sneaks up behind them.Burden bearers feel distressed by moving to or traveling somewhere only when their spirit senses trouble where they go. HSP’s often feel the need to withdraw to a private place such as their bed or a dark room for relief from overstimulation. Burden bearers are empathetic and get exhausted, but more through sensing in their spirit what others are feeling. Unlike HSP’s, this often happens even when not in the presence of the persons whose feelings they sense. HSP’s can feel overly disturbed by violent movies and TV shows or news about brutal acts against animals or people. They feel the need to avoid these, since their heightened senses (what they see and hear in violent movies) and their imagination (what they picture about violent news stories) intensify their displeasure.

HSP’s have a rich and complex inner life. They are deep thinkers with an incredible ability to process information, reflecting a lot on the details of emotional experiences. This can dispose them toward negative overthinking and anxiously replaying events in their mind.It was refreshing to realize that my being sensitive to those around me is not a curse but a gift. My sensitivity when understood and properly processed can be a blessing as the author points out. Majority of Christians are struggling because they can’t get to the frequency that God is communicating with them. Fasting fine tunes your frequency to the frequency of the Holy Spirit. Burden bearers aren’t overly sensitive to such things physically, but they can become so if their spirit and emotions become so worn out by what they sense that their body begins to react to the stress. HSP’s can find change very upsetting—even a positive change such as a job promotion or making new friends. Familiar routines and situations are not as overstimulating. They need more time than others to adjust to change.