How to stand out as a Highly Sensitive Creative - 7 points to remember
“In a heavily saturated world today, where do you stand? What Is so unique and different about you? How do you stand apart from everyone else? What draws people towards you?”
I asked myself these questions when I was scrolling IG one day and saw how many times a content has been multiplied and reposted. I saw how many times the same quotes were being illustrated and posted and the same tips were being shared so very often. It all started to feel overstimulating and I closed the app feeling a heavy weight in my chest and my mind started racing. Then came these questions I just asked you in the beginning.
It wouldn’t come as a shock or surprise when you find me complaining about how saturated IG has become and how ideas are now being replicated instead of being created. Not to mention catching up on the latest algorithm change. Initially it was fine, then it started feeling “all done before”.
My clients who also rely on IG to promote their work and business have felt this overwhelm and the confusion about how to stay authentic while doing so. Staying true to your brand, values and still being able to share how your work can add value in their lives is very challenging. Especially if you’re a highly sensitive person.
In my opinion and experience when it comes to being authentic it’s important to know your foundations just as you do the foundation of your work or your brand. It can be very easy to simply copy and replicate what is already being done but if you’re HSP it may not be very easy for you to be okay with this decision and it will start to gnaw at you. HSP rely mainly on their values and their sensitivity, they do what works for them rather than doing what is ‘trending’ or ‘popular’ or even following an algorithm, just because.
Leave your mark – If you’re a highly sensitive creative and feel deeply called to do this work because it’s your passion and/or purpose the first thing to do is embrace your individual style and way of working. You will meet people who will critique your work and lead you towards taking an approach that appeals to the crowd but you’re allowed to leave your own mark. HSP are leaders because they embrace challenges and are very resilient, they aren’t afraid to take a risk but they can rarely follow someone else’s template.
Leave the herd mentality – It’s okay to do something very different from what others deem acceptable. It’s okay to do what you think is right and fun for you. Sometimes different projects take a little longer to be to noticed and accepted. Doing what everyone else is doing could make you feel included or even validate your confidence for a little while, but the downside is that, you may lose your mark and yourself.
Take the plunge – I understand that not every idea will work out and you may face some failures down the road but it’s always soul-filling to take the plunge with an idea instead of playing it safe. It gives you an opportunity to play around with future possibilities, even helps you rediscover some aspects about yourself that you probably wouldn’t be able to before, you understand your limitations, your skills and your potential. It’s important to note that taking the plunge is very different from acting impulsive.
Listen to your intuition – I think it would be very corny to say listen to your heart but really as a HSP I have to encourage you to listen to the way your heart reacts to everything you do. Your intuition can guide you when it comes to making decisions, taking the plunge, archiving for later, being patient, and all this can really help you grow as a creative. It can help you improve a lot of your creativity and as a HSP you like doing things your way, it can also give your confidence a strong boost.
Release the pressure of being accepted – I wish I could tell you that being accepted is going to be so easy but its not. This is not a bad thing it just means that some people will appreciate your work and some may not. This also depends on the preferences of people but it doesn’t mean that your work will not be appreciated by those who genuinely are your patrons. It would be very futile to try to be accepted by people who don’t understand or resonate with your style. instead of focusing on how to get people to accept you, it would be wise to improve your style so the people who do enjoy your work will benefit more from it.
Release the need to be perfect – Being able to leave your mark doesn’t often come from perfection but your quirks and being comfortable at showing them. Not as a badge of honour but just to show that you’re human and you do make mistakes and you’re find being vulnerable. Most people love the behind the scenes because you also get to see the process and the ups and downs and that can be very inspiring and oddly help you connect with your audience in an authentic way.
Inspiration is a good place to start – Lastly (oddly should’ve been my first point), when you take inspiration from people who inspire you creatively and professionally, you may find yourself wanting to take the same path. That isn’t wrong but it’s not the journey, it’s only a starting point. Something to help give you reference and then help you carve your way as you go along. Inspiration can help mould you in a beautiful way, and it helps you come back to something in case you lose your way and need to restart. This doesn’t help you leave a mark very overtly but it helps you understand what you wish to do.
I’ve worked with a lot of creatives, keeping their Highly Sensitive personality in mind and introverted personality in mind, and what I’ve noticed is that a lot of them often lead and start something that they feel very drawn to but get stuck when it is not fully appreciated and recognized right away or in the way that they hope. This can be very challenging to keep up with the inspiration and motivation, especially now when it all comes down to numbers and stats. For HSP this can cause a setback and they can retreat from doing the work they love to then settling and doing what is accepted.
Standing out as a Highly Sensitive Creative and Entrepreneur, is not impossible, just a bit slow and gradual instead of overnight. There is no short-cut method to it and it requires a bit of patience and self-awareness.
I hope this article helps you in finding the confidence and encouragement that can help give you the push to try something new.
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