In one of my older posts – our road trip through the Netherlands and Belgium – I mentioned that on our second day in Belgium, we capped off the day by dining with our Airbnb host, who parted ways with us after giving me a Dalai Lama-blessed bracelet. I was overjoyed that I just sat there for a moment, lost in a state of joy and gratitude, and feeling all sentimental.

If something as small as a bracelet gift from my B&B host can bring me such joy, then I’m truly one of those people. From unexpected gifts to strangers’ compliments and even short notes written in the margins of books, any little thing or life’s small moment lights up a spark in my heart.

That’s me.

For some people, when they hear the words “emotional” or “too emotional”, they instantly picture someone who always makes everything a big deal, who’s always sucked into the drama of every situation, or who chooses to be alone because they can’t handle dealing with the swirling and intense emotions of others. This is a very saddening version of it.

It’s true that being emotional can be quite tiresome, and I may be a little too tense or edgy at times. Little things make me feel a lot; an unintentionally rude comment can stick with me for days, and not receiving an invite makes me worry that the friendship isn’t real.

But is it all that bad? Actually, at least for me, it’s the opposite.

Feeling too much makes me savor every moment

I think that feeling too much is not a bad thing. That every time I cried louder than others, I should remember that the same sensitivity would allow me to laugh louder than others, feel more joy in moments of happiness, and hug those who needed it more strongly.

Feeling so much makes me reflect on situations constantly, looking at them from every angle. Sometimes it’s to make sure I didn’t do anything wrong when a situation felt awkward for no apparent reason, and other times it’s to savor the lovely words of a stranger who liked my outfit.

When something good happens, no matter how big or small, it fills my every cell with glowing happiness, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

So I refuse to apologize for feeling too much – for crying in the face of injustice, for being angry in the face of violence and intolerance, and for smiling whenever I can.

Feeling too much makes me a better person for myself and others

Being aware of how sensitive and overly emotional I am has allowed me to be more gentle with myself and not judge myself so harshly when I feel I have overreacted or dug too deeply into a simple remark. Knowing your personality type shows you where you can really shine, and knowing how emotional and sensitive I am allows me to use my reactions in the best possible ways. I’m really good at celebrating with my friends, and I feed off their joy! Perhaps my most favorite aspect of having this trait is that I can be there for people whenever and wherever they need me. There’s even a 99% chance I’ll cry with them! As Lt. Col Dave Grossman puts it, “pain shared is pain divided, joy shared is joy multiplied.” And I’m really good at it.

Feeling too much makes me special in this world

Everyone has potential and vulnerabilities; the key is to self-regulate in the most effective way possible. Highly sensitive people are not special beings with superpowers; the fact that I have more sensory and emotional capability does not make me out of the ordinary. But, as obvious as it has already been in my life, feeling too much has turned out to be one of life’s greatest gifts to me. Because of it…

I long to help others and am driven to make the world a better place.

I can’t stop myself from becoming involved in global issues such as the environment, justice, socioeconomics, and so on.

I see myself as a great thinker, and I am deeply involved in my projects.

I know how to appreciate art and beauty.

I am terrific at teamwork.

I can enjoy the little things.

I am an intuitive person.

I can express myself better.

I feel good in solitude.

I love a job well done.

I love writing for you.

I’m all these and more.

Being fully accepting of who I am

Appreciating myself for who I am is a never-ending journey, one that I doubt anyone ever truly completes, but the journey is worthwhile. It’s full of awe-inspiring beauty, honesty, and solace. It was reassuring to discover that so many other people, perhaps even you, have similar feelings about everything as I do. The trust I discovered in myself after admitting that I do feel deeply was rather comforting to me.

Now, I keep my eyes on the beautiful sunrise on the horizon, and I trust my heart with a little excitement, a lot of faith, and a grain of strength that there will be even better things along my journey – that incredible people will show up, who understand how I feel, and that new and liberating experiences will help me to expand my awareness, curiosity, and imagination.

I am truly grateful to have this wonderful and special trait. And that is my wish for you – to recognize and appreciate your unique qualities. Especially the more extraordinary ones, because they are the ones who bring you closer to this world and help you connect. In the end, life is about relationships and the people with whom you and I connect.

I’d like to express my gratitude to the people in my life who have accepted and loved me despite my being “too much” or overly emotional. Your help has made me feel loved and safe on my journey to accept myself. Y’all know who you are!

And to anyone who has ever felt that they are wrong for being too sensitive, I only have one piece of advice – don’t let yourself get knocked out by the negative. Instead of fighting something you can’t control, use your strength to do something positive with that wonderful sensitivity. Dare to feel everything you’re capable of feeling because you were born with it, and it’s up to each of you to see what you can accomplish by positively channeling your energies.

When you’re able to accept yourself instead of continuing to fight a fight that was never going to end in anything but emptiness, you’re able to live again instead of just surviving.

Don’t take my word for it, but you will be much happier if you accept your nature and learn to live with it sooner. Because feeling allows you to enter the realm of truly living. That is the true beauty of feeling too much.