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Sensitive Is the New Strong: The Power of Empaths in an Increasingly Harsh World
The New York Times bestselling author of Dying to Be Me returns with “a gorgeous and powerful field guide to the empath living in today’s wild world” (Laura Berman, PhD, author of Quantum Love ) and how they can fully embrace their gifts of intuition and empathy.
Empaths not only sense other people’s emotions, but also absorb them—sometimes to their own disadvantage, often leading to overwhelming sensory overload and feelings of confusion or low self-esteem. Their willingness to help and please others might make them prey to opportunists or cause them to give away more energy than they can afford.
But Anita Moorjani argues that it’s possible to turn this onslaught of emotional burden into a powerful tool. In a time when traits like sensitivity, kindness, and compassion are sorely undervalued, Moorjani helps empaths—whether emerging or acknowledged—navigate obstacles they may face and identify what makes them unique. She teaches them how to claim their true powers as empaths and to be their most authentic selves.
“ Sensitive is the New Strong is a book that provides you with groundbreaking information, tools, and exercises in understanding the challenges faced by empaths. You can learn how to protect your energy and thrive. A definite must-read for empaths and their loved ones” (Nick Ortner, New York Times bestselling author).
Empaths not only sense other people’s emotions, but also absorb them—sometimes to their own disadvantage, often leading to overwhelming sensory overload and feelings of confusion or low self-esteem. Their willingness to help and please others might make them prey to opportunists or cause them to give away more energy than they can afford.
But Anita Moorjani argues that it’s possible to turn this onslaught of emotional burden into a powerful tool. In a time when traits like sensitivity, kindness, and compassion are sorely undervalued, Moorjani helps empaths—whether emerging or acknowledged—navigate obstacles they may face and identify what makes them unique. She teaches them how to claim their true powers as empaths and to be their most authentic selves.
“ Sensitive is the New Strong is a book that provides you with groundbreaking information, tools, and exercises in understanding the challenges faced by empaths. You can learn how to protect your energy and thrive. A definite must-read for empaths and their loved ones” (Nick Ortner, New York Times bestselling author).
203 pages, Hardcover
Published March 16, 2021
561 people are currently reading
2841 people want to read
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September 7, 2021
This book is a tricky one to review.
While I fully subscribe to its core message (high sensitivity is a strength, not a flaw) and appreciate the way in which Moorjani normalizes the experience of being an empath, I was turned off by all the New Age-talk of auras and wheatgrass.
I’m not opposed to spirituality (far from it, actually) but it bothered me here. For the past few days, I’ve been trying to figure out why, and it finally hit me: high sensitivity already gets a bad rap. It’s a poorly understood concept, and there’s relatively little scientific research out there exploring it even though we know that it’s a real thing, both physical and mental. It’s wonderful and tricky at the same time, so more awareness and subsequent research would be beneficial.
Yet, by tying the experience of being an empath to “auras” and “manifesting,” I fear that high sensitivity is being launched straight back into the realm of “floaty” concepts that have no basis in reality, just when it’s so important society takes it seriously (especially considering the crises we face, globally, from climate change to polarisation). I found that very frustrating.
Additionally, I had real problems with her implicit message that our thoughts, or our “suggestibility” can cause cancer or other illnesses.
Granted, pervasive stress can cause illness. We know that. I don’t dispute that. I also believe that the mind has some effect on our health - but just how much, I don’t dare to say.
Moorjani, however, constantly implies that her own fears of cancer made her sick, which is just insane. It puts the blame for sickness on patients, which is very harmful.
I doubt this was her intention, but it is hard to come to a different conclusion based on everything she’s saying.
Similarly, her hinting at alternative medicine to treat severe illness is also dangerous. To be fair, she does mention at some point that she doesn’t want to discourage anyone from seeking medical treatment, but in the same chapter she goes on and on about finding a doctor that makes you feel good, medical or otherwise.
Here, as with other passages, I agree with the core idea (if you don’t trust your doctor, then that’s not conducive to getting better) but the way she says it leaves so much room for misinterpretation that I fear it might do more harm than good.
A similar victim-blaming tendency seems to be happening in the passage about a radio show. Moorjani mentions she was on air, discussing the importance of following your calling and saying no to things that drain you. Yes! I’m with her on that.
But then a woman calls in, sounding very stressed, saying her job is causing her severe anxiety. She asks Moorjani what to do.
Moorjani tells her to quit.
The woman says: I will lose my health insurance and won’t be able to pay my mortgage if I quit.
Moorjani tells her to do it anyway, or stress will make her sick.
That passage just felt so tone-deaf. Not everyone has the safety net to just quit their job and hope everything will work out for the best. The implication seems to be that if the woman doesn’t quit, she is not following her calling, and therefore of course she will get sick.
That is just so…wrong.
Again, I don’t think Moorjani intends to send these messages at all, but I can’t read these passages any other way.
Overall, then, I was mildly disappointed with this book because it slants towards New Age writing and overlooks the fact that there are real social and political obstacles obstructing people’s functioning as empaths. Rather than indirectly blaming them for the fact that they get ill, it would be more helpful to consider what can be done structurally to make space for empaths in society. Real space.
Was this book a total waste of time? No. As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I do appreciate the way in which Moorjani shows the value of being an empath, and normalizes empath-experiences. I also like the way she highlights the (Buddhist) idea of interconnectedness and ties it to her own experiences. It’s nice to read about all the positive aspects of being an empath when sensitivity is still often seen as a negative trait. I appreciate all of that, very much.
Still, I’m holding out for a book that strikes more of a balance between spirituality and rationality, and between personal experience and structural solutions.
While I fully subscribe to its core message (high sensitivity is a strength, not a flaw) and appreciate the way in which Moorjani normalizes the experience of being an empath, I was turned off by all the New Age-talk of auras and wheatgrass.
I’m not opposed to spirituality (far from it, actually) but it bothered me here. For the past few days, I’ve been trying to figure out why, and it finally hit me: high sensitivity already gets a bad rap. It’s a poorly understood concept, and there’s relatively little scientific research out there exploring it even though we know that it’s a real thing, both physical and mental. It’s wonderful and tricky at the same time, so more awareness and subsequent research would be beneficial.
Yet, by tying the experience of being an empath to “auras” and “manifesting,” I fear that high sensitivity is being launched straight back into the realm of “floaty” concepts that have no basis in reality, just when it’s so important society takes it seriously (especially considering the crises we face, globally, from climate change to polarisation). I found that very frustrating.
Additionally, I had real problems with her implicit message that our thoughts, or our “suggestibility” can cause cancer or other illnesses.
Granted, pervasive stress can cause illness. We know that. I don’t dispute that. I also believe that the mind has some effect on our health - but just how much, I don’t dare to say.
Moorjani, however, constantly implies that her own fears of cancer made her sick, which is just insane. It puts the blame for sickness on patients, which is very harmful.
I doubt this was her intention, but it is hard to come to a different conclusion based on everything she’s saying.
Similarly, her hinting at alternative medicine to treat severe illness is also dangerous. To be fair, she does mention at some point that she doesn’t want to discourage anyone from seeking medical treatment, but in the same chapter she goes on and on about finding a doctor that makes you feel good, medical or otherwise.
Here, as with other passages, I agree with the core idea (if you don’t trust your doctor, then that’s not conducive to getting better) but the way she says it leaves so much room for misinterpretation that I fear it might do more harm than good.
A similar victim-blaming tendency seems to be happening in the passage about a radio show. Moorjani mentions she was on air, discussing the importance of following your calling and saying no to things that drain you. Yes! I’m with her on that.
But then a woman calls in, sounding very stressed, saying her job is causing her severe anxiety. She asks Moorjani what to do.
Moorjani tells her to quit.
The woman says: I will lose my health insurance and won’t be able to pay my mortgage if I quit.
Moorjani tells her to do it anyway, or stress will make her sick.
That passage just felt so tone-deaf. Not everyone has the safety net to just quit their job and hope everything will work out for the best. The implication seems to be that if the woman doesn’t quit, she is not following her calling, and therefore of course she will get sick.
That is just so…wrong.
Again, I don’t think Moorjani intends to send these messages at all, but I can’t read these passages any other way.
Overall, then, I was mildly disappointed with this book because it slants towards New Age writing and overlooks the fact that there are real social and political obstacles obstructing people’s functioning as empaths. Rather than indirectly blaming them for the fact that they get ill, it would be more helpful to consider what can be done structurally to make space for empaths in society. Real space.
Was this book a total waste of time? No. As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I do appreciate the way in which Moorjani shows the value of being an empath, and normalizes empath-experiences. I also like the way she highlights the (Buddhist) idea of interconnectedness and ties it to her own experiences. It’s nice to read about all the positive aspects of being an empath when sensitivity is still often seen as a negative trait. I appreciate all of that, very much.
Still, I’m holding out for a book that strikes more of a balance between spirituality and rationality, and between personal experience and structural solutions.
April 10, 2021
Another excellent work from Anita Moorjani, who had an experience that gave her a heart-based perspective beyond the third dimension of reality that most of us inhabit.
I have both her previous books Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing and What if THIS is Heaven?, but more than reading her work, I have listened to her speak, and it is probably here, where she is fluent, spontaneous and not influenced by any external entity, that she is her most authentic and resonant. I love her books, but listening to Tea With Anita and especially the episode on Forgiveness, from 14:14 has for me, been life-changing.
Here, she focuses particularly on the experience of those who are empaths, no matter where on the spectrum of empathy they sit. It explains and supports how they feel, and helps them understand how to cope with certain situations and why it is important that they play a larger role in our societies.
She writes of appreciating the gift and beauty of our sensitivity, seeing the strength in it, recognising the responses and behaviours in our society that may have contributed to it being devalued.
The Beauty of Your Sensitivity
And the consequence of suppressing it:
To make the most of the gift of sensitivity, and to develop one's intuitive capacity, it is necessary to quiet the noise coming from external sources.
Dealing With Sensory Overload
Each chapter provides a short mantras and a meditative text that specifically address the aspect encouraged in that chapter, so that it becomes not just something theoretical, that we read and understand, but something with a practical aspect, an action one can take, something that many who are inclined to read this, will no doubt already be practicing.
There are also practical ways to protect one's energetic body, to recognise the impact various negative influences have on it and a variety of ways to protect it. This is something I encounter frequently with other practitioner's, how to proactively protect oneself from the negative energies of others, and in the case where we have absorbed it, what to do immediately afterwards to remove it.
Protect Your Aura
1. Carry black tourmaline with you.
2. Smudge your aura with white sage (especially after being in and around groups of people)
3. Strengthen your aura by using colour and learning how to expand and contract it, learning to contract it, helps avoid picking up unwanted energies.
4. Keep your body healthy - drink plenty of water, exercise, go outside (clears energy, centres you)
Connect With the Web of Consciousness
Ego and Conscious Awareness
Ego often gets a bad rap. Anita Moorjani puts in in context and talks of two elements required in balance, ego and conscious awareness and that it is only when one or other are out of balance with each other that problems arise. If the ego dial is on high and conscious awareness is low egocentricity results. Likewise, having raised conscious awareness with ego on low, results in an ability to act or change. A healthy ego and conscious awareness aligns us with our soul's purpose and brings meaning into our lives.
Imagination Unveils a Calling
Giving the example from her own life experience, from within one of the cultures within which she was raised, she shows how each culture puts upon us a set of differing beliefs, that are often in conflict with each other, which adds to our confusion. And shows how suppressing one's inner guidance and giving our power away to an authoritative cultural figure can have a detrimental effect.
There is so much I highlighted throughout the book that I could share, if any of this resonates, I highly recommend reading it, its messages are so reassuring, it's a book I have already passed on to another with whom I often discuss these issues, as one way, as empaths, we deal with the effect of this, is to share stories and ways to resolve the associated dilemmas we face and empower each other, to overcome them.
Being Your Authentic Self, Empowered Within
I have both her previous books Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing and What if THIS is Heaven?, but more than reading her work, I have listened to her speak, and it is probably here, where she is fluent, spontaneous and not influenced by any external entity, that she is her most authentic and resonant. I love her books, but listening to Tea With Anita and especially the episode on Forgiveness, from 14:14 has for me, been life-changing.
Here, she focuses particularly on the experience of those who are empaths, no matter where on the spectrum of empathy they sit. It explains and supports how they feel, and helps them understand how to cope with certain situations and why it is important that they play a larger role in our societies.
She writes of appreciating the gift and beauty of our sensitivity, seeing the strength in it, recognising the responses and behaviours in our society that may have contributed to it being devalued.
The Beauty of Your Sensitivity
"Your sensitivity opens up six sensory world. It's connected to the other side. If you block your sensitivity, you block what's coming in from the other realm. The thing is to be aware that you're giving your power to the outside world, and to start giving it to your own inner world or to your higher self."
And the consequence of suppressing it:
"It's when you give your power to the outside world that you lose your connection to your inner sense of knowing, and your life starts spirally downward."
To make the most of the gift of sensitivity, and to develop one's intuitive capacity, it is necessary to quiet the noise coming from external sources.
Dealing With Sensory Overload
"The outside world is loud and demanding so the first step in honing our powers is learning to deal effectively with sensory overload. We have to identify and manage the things that jam our inner guidance system. And that involves turning down the volume on the outside world so we can hear what's going on inside."
Each chapter provides a short mantras and a meditative text that specifically address the aspect encouraged in that chapter, so that it becomes not just something theoretical, that we read and understand, but something with a practical aspect, an action one can take, something that many who are inclined to read this, will no doubt already be practicing.
"Accept that your inner world is real. It's real and you have to empower it."
There are also practical ways to protect one's energetic body, to recognise the impact various negative influences have on it and a variety of ways to protect it. This is something I encounter frequently with other practitioner's, how to proactively protect oneself from the negative energies of others, and in the case where we have absorbed it, what to do immediately afterwards to remove it.
Protect Your Aura
1. Carry black tourmaline with you.
2. Smudge your aura with white sage (especially after being in and around groups of people)
3. Strengthen your aura by using colour and learning how to expand and contract it, learning to contract it, helps avoid picking up unwanted energies.
4. Keep your body healthy - drink plenty of water, exercise, go outside (clears energy, centres you)
Connect With the Web of Consciousness
"As with Michelangelo finding his angel in the block of marble, we need to strip away these layers and chip away at the false beliefs, thought patterns, fears and unnecessary pressures that jam our internal radar and hinder our connection to our inner mystics."
Ego and Conscious Awareness
Ego often gets a bad rap. Anita Moorjani puts in in context and talks of two elements required in balance, ego and conscious awareness and that it is only when one or other are out of balance with each other that problems arise. If the ego dial is on high and conscious awareness is low egocentricity results. Likewise, having raised conscious awareness with ego on low, results in an ability to act or change. A healthy ego and conscious awareness aligns us with our soul's purpose and brings meaning into our lives.
"Ego serves a huge purpose. It offsets a tendency to second guess oneself or give power away."
Imagination Unveils a Calling
"A clue to finding one's purpose is to use your imagination. When I set my imagination free, I connect with something that is exciting and beautiful: for me, it's my sixth sense, my intuition, and my higher self."
Giving the example from her own life experience, from within one of the cultures within which she was raised, she shows how each culture puts upon us a set of differing beliefs, that are often in conflict with each other, which adds to our confusion. And shows how suppressing one's inner guidance and giving our power away to an authoritative cultural figure can have a detrimental effect.
"Death taught me that I had to recognise my own divinity first before I could be or do anything of value to others."
There is so much I highlighted throughout the book that I could share, if any of this resonates, I highly recommend reading it, its messages are so reassuring, it's a book I have already passed on to another with whom I often discuss these issues, as one way, as empaths, we deal with the effect of this, is to share stories and ways to resolve the associated dilemmas we face and empower each other, to overcome them.
Being Your Authentic Self, Empowered Within
"Good teachers help you believe in yourself, rather than cultivate a belief in them. They teach you to connect to the divinity within you."
March 17, 2021
This book is about embracing sensitivity and embracing being an empath, people who tend to be very compassionate, sympathetic. but who have always been made to feel that there's something wrong with them. I was interested in learning about the difference between highly sensitive people and empaths. This book discusses if, as a society, we should change our metrics on what it means to be strong. Maybe empaths have it right.
There is a very simple quiz in the book to identify how many of the empath traits you identify with. One of the biggest things with empaths is that empaths actually feel things in their own body that are not theirs. Whether you're an empath or just highly sensitive, the book gives a roadmap for anybody who has put their own needs aside and prioritizes other people first. I loved the whole part about the sixth sense and its importance. The book is so empowering, and I found it inspirational personally.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/ani...
There is a very simple quiz in the book to identify how many of the empath traits you identify with. One of the biggest things with empaths is that empaths actually feel things in their own body that are not theirs. Whether you're an empath or just highly sensitive, the book gives a roadmap for anybody who has put their own needs aside and prioritizes other people first. I loved the whole part about the sixth sense and its importance. The book is so empowering, and I found it inspirational personally.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/ani...
March 11, 2021
This self-help book is written with empaths in mind, as Moorjani identifies as an empath and she experienced a “near death experience” in which she walked in another realm during her cancer journey. She’s a survivor. She wrote this book as an “inspirational guide for sensitive people looking to hardness their gifts of intuition and empathy”. With that in mind, I was hoping this book would give me some advice on how to deal with my own sensitivity. I may identify with some empath characteristics, but I wouldn’t say I am a complete empath after reading this book.
If anything, I felt turned off because of how it started off with her experience with a higher spiritual person telling her she’s different, and her energy is different, and he will “reset” it for her. She said no one has ever spoken to her that way. Many parts of the book was mostly about how she wants others to portray her to be or how she thinks she comes off. I felt it was stroking her ego a bit.
This is not to say that this book was poorly written but I had a hard time getting through it.
Thank you Atria/Enliven Books & Netgalley for this ARC!
If anything, I felt turned off because of how it started off with her experience with a higher spiritual person telling her she’s different, and her energy is different, and he will “reset” it for her. She said no one has ever spoken to her that way. Many parts of the book was mostly about how she wants others to portray her to be or how she thinks she comes off. I felt it was stroking her ego a bit.
This is not to say that this book was poorly written but I had a hard time getting through it.
Thank you Atria/Enliven Books & Netgalley for this ARC!
January 12, 2024
I picked up this book to learn more about the lived experience of a Highly Sensitive Person. I had already read Elaine Aron’s foundational book in which she defines sensitivity as a particular kind of neurological functioning. Moorjani takes a completely different approach and presents sensitivity as a spiritual attribute more developed in certain people.
Most of her account focuses her near-death experience (NDE) (which I understand she already explained in Dying To Be Me).While she was in a coma she experienced unity with all life and the universe. She was ‘told’ by her father to return to earth and when she awoke from the coma, she started to heal from her advanced fatal cancer. Within a short period she had no signs of cancer, and she now uses the experience to tell others how to live in the light.
While such accounts are beautiful on the surface, they don’t offer practical suggestions for others. They are pleasant distractions. And with more serious consequence, they perpetuate the false notion that some people are more spiritual than others and therefore worthy of our following.
Most of her account focuses her near-death experience (NDE) (which I understand she already explained in Dying To Be Me).While she was in a coma she experienced unity with all life and the universe. She was ‘told’ by her father to return to earth and when she awoke from the coma, she started to heal from her advanced fatal cancer. Within a short period she had no signs of cancer, and she now uses the experience to tell others how to live in the light.
While such accounts are beautiful on the surface, they don’t offer practical suggestions for others. They are pleasant distractions. And with more serious consequence, they perpetuate the false notion that some people are more spiritual than others and therefore worthy of our following.
August 30, 2023
Svatko bi triba pročitati ovu knjigu :)
January 20, 2023
Loved this book, which was recommended to me by someone inspiring! Very enlightening! It tackles a world where empaths get overwhelmed with emotions, which may affect them either positively or negatively and help them cope with different situations. It's a light book that makes you feel lighter after reading it! Will definitely read more of Anitas books!
January 7, 2022
Dnf'ed in the middle of the book... Just couldn't force myself to read more about devine energy and spiritual guides.
It wasn't what I expected from this book.
It wasn't what I expected from this book.
August 1, 2022
The author of 'Dying to be Me' extends her personal insight on mysticism and runs off on a tangent that is clear and possibly meaningless. She acknowledges that blind following of her ideas is dangerous, yet she continues. There are many people who are overly sensitive to the needs, emotions, and whims of others. I am one of those people. The author calls these people empaths and prescribes a series of activities they can use to essentially regain control of their lives. There are a lot of interesting ideas in this book. I believe that the author presents a strong case for many exercises that are prescribed by modern psychologists. However, I felt many of the psychological ideas were buried in too much anecdotal mysticism to provide insight for me. I liked the mantras throughout the book, especially 'I am like water, both gentle and strong.' Yet again, these are anecdotes that may not represent the population. P.S. I scored 21 to 23 on her Empath quiz (I took it three times), many of my NO responses were due to my deliberate actions to overcome issues that have caused me problems. Some of the later questions seem to be leading questions.
I take issue with the concept that empaths understand the feelings of others better than they understand themselves or mistaking another person's thoughts for yours. This may be a cultural difference, but I see those ideas as a personality disorder like Narcissism, Borderline Personality, or Antisocial Personality. To me, that mindset is a case of projecting one's own personality on others. In my experience it is pretentious to think to know the mind of others, and it is nearly always wrong. Perhaps the biggest issue I have with this idea is that it gives a perception of power to the empath. And since the subject's experience is rarely investigated, the empath continues with the false belief of knowing the inner workings of the subject.
There are a lot of good and helpful ideas in this book. It will be challenging for any reader to find the right balance of using these ideas rather than abusing them.
I take issue with the concept that empaths understand the feelings of others better than they understand themselves or mistaking another person's thoughts for yours. This may be a cultural difference, but I see those ideas as a personality disorder like Narcissism, Borderline Personality, or Antisocial Personality. To me, that mindset is a case of projecting one's own personality on others. In my experience it is pretentious to think to know the mind of others, and it is nearly always wrong. Perhaps the biggest issue I have with this idea is that it gives a perception of power to the empath. And since the subject's experience is rarely investigated, the empath continues with the false belief of knowing the inner workings of the subject.
There are a lot of good and helpful ideas in this book. It will be challenging for any reader to find the right balance of using these ideas rather than abusing them.
May 25, 2023
1 and a half stars.
To sum up this book: stress will kill you and can even cause illnesses/diseases, don’t be a pushover, just say no, money isn’t everything but you also need a lot of money to make money?? and love yourself.
I genuinely believe that some passages in this book can do more harm than good. I understand that is not the authors intention (at least I hope) but to say she got cancer because she didn’t say no earlier in her life is absolutely mind boggling to me.
She also brings up the matter of picking a doctor that makes you feel good and supports your decisions to take more natural alternatives. That could be ok in some situations BUT some readers can interpret this in a completely wrong way and at the end of the day, you should listen to the medical expert.
I can go on and on but those two points stuck out to me the most. I absolutely would have DNF’d this book if it wasn’t for book club.
To sum up this book: stress will kill you and can even cause illnesses/diseases, don’t be a pushover, just say no, money isn’t everything but you also need a lot of money to make money?? and love yourself.
I genuinely believe that some passages in this book can do more harm than good. I understand that is not the authors intention (at least I hope) but to say she got cancer because she didn’t say no earlier in her life is absolutely mind boggling to me.
She also brings up the matter of picking a doctor that makes you feel good and supports your decisions to take more natural alternatives. That could be ok in some situations BUT some readers can interpret this in a completely wrong way and at the end of the day, you should listen to the medical expert.
I can go on and on but those two points stuck out to me the most. I absolutely would have DNF’d this book if it wasn’t for book club.
June 25, 2021
Excellent POV to consider life as an empath/sensitive person and seeker. Tips and insight on living a freer life through self-care. We care about the world and want to help - we need to be well and thriving first in order to stay grounded and kind, while the shitz is flying. It is 2021. The more we up our vibe and see our goodness, the more the world can do the same.
An easy book to finish with lots of lessons. I have little post-it tags all over the book. It'd help my coaching practice as well!
An easy book to finish with lots of lessons. I have little post-it tags all over the book. It'd help my coaching practice as well!
March 5, 2023
«Емпат з емпатом завжди знайде, про що поговорити», - сказала мені зовсім недавно одна чарівна рудоволоса леді за філіжанкою кави ☕️
Я аж кліпнула очима, бо кілька днів назад почула від близької людини: “Я - емпат». Я тоді дуже здивувалася.
Я також емпат, але не звикла про це вголос говорити 🙈
Це завжди здавалося мені чимось дуже особистим.
Якщо ви - емпат.
Якщо біля вас є емпат.
Якщо ви не впевнені, але підоздрюєте, що можете бути емпатом.
Ця книга для вас.
Там навіть є шкала визначення рівня вашої емпатії - не наукова, але цілком логічна))
Місцями слово в слово про те, що інколи в нас усередині))
Якби я прочитала цю книгу років 15, навіть 10, назад - це була б одна з найкорисніших книг у моєму житті!
Життя помаленьку навчило майже всього, про що пише авторка, але якими зусиллями, штурханами, а інколи й відвертими побоями))
Але читати все одно дуже цікаво, хоча книжка й трошки космічна.
Але емпати й самі трохи космічні 😉
Я читала й місцями посміхалася сама до себе ☺️
📌 Їм потрібно, щоб усі довкола почувалися добре, тому вони постійно рятують людей і допомагають їм.
📌 А хто відчуває найбільше внутрішнього болю? Емпати.
📌 Емпати інколи намагаються заблокувати свою чутливість, але врешті-решт це не допомагає.
📌 … слід зменшити гучність зовнішнього світу - і тоді ми почуємо, що відбувається всередині.
📌 Ви як той смартфон: час від часу його треба заряджати. Ми, емпати, схильні виснажуватися, коли намагаємося задовольнити чужі емоційні потреби.
📌 … вони добре вміють віддавати себе іншим, але мають труднощі з тим, щоб узяти.
📌 Ким би ви були і що робили б для свого щастя, якби не мусили зважати на думку інших?
📌 Нас змусили повірити, що наше сприйняття зовнішньої реальності є реальним світом і що наш внутрішній стан просто реагує на події зовні. А насправді все навпаки.
📌 Коли ми боїмося розчарувати, то врешті-решт стаємо такими, як нас хочуть бачити.
📌 Не чекайте і не сподівайтеся, що інші зміняться.
Я аж кліпнула очима, бо кілька днів назад почула від близької людини: “Я - емпат». Я тоді дуже здивувалася.
Я також емпат, але не звикла про це вголос говорити 🙈
Це завжди здавалося мені чимось дуже особистим.
Якщо ви - емпат.
Якщо біля вас є емпат.
Якщо ви не впевнені, але підоздрюєте, що можете бути емпатом.
Ця книга для вас.
Там навіть є шкала визначення рівня вашої емпатії - не наукова, але цілком логічна))
Місцями слово в слово про те, що інколи в нас усередині))
Якби я прочитала цю книгу років 15, навіть 10, назад - це була б одна з найкорисніших книг у моєму житті!
Життя помаленьку навчило майже всього, про що пише авторка, але якими зусиллями, штурханами, а інколи й відвертими побоями))
Але читати все одно дуже цікаво, хоча книжка й трошки космічна.
Але емпати й самі трохи космічні 😉
Я читала й місцями посміхалася сама до себе ☺️
📌 Їм потрібно, щоб усі довкола почувалися добре, тому вони постійно рятують людей і допомагають їм.
📌 А хто відчуває найбільше внутрішнього болю? Емпати.
📌 Емпати інколи намагаються заблокувати свою чутливість, але врешті-решт це не допомагає.
📌 … слід зменшити гучність зовнішнього світу - і тоді ми почуємо, що відбувається всередині.
📌 Ви як той смартфон: час від часу його треба заряджати. Ми, емпати, схильні виснажуватися, коли намагаємося задовольнити чужі емоційні потреби.
📌 … вони добре вміють віддавати себе іншим, але мають труднощі з тим, щоб узяти.
📌 Ким би ви були і що робили б для свого щастя, якби не мусили зважати на думку інших?
📌 Нас змусили повірити, що наше сприйняття зовнішньої реальності є реальним світом і що наш внутрішній стан просто реагує на події зовні. А насправді все навпаки.
📌 Коли ми боїмося розчарувати, то врешті-решт стаємо такими, як нас хочуть бачити.
📌 Не чекайте і не сподівайтеся, що інші зміняться.
April 16, 2025
I appreciated the authors point of view and experiences. A good reminder of the challenges faced by highly sensitive people and how to overcome them. Perhaps with everything I already know about energy and being an empath it wasn’t ground breaking but still a good read.
September 12, 2021
Let me start by saying I entered this book full of skepticism. I read her book on her NDE (and was equally skeptical and I also did find it compelling-not as in I believe it necessarily, but I find her overall message relatable, rational, and reasonable) and I only read this because a dear friend recommended it to me.
First, the things I am not sold on: I am not sure one can heal oneself of cancer by listening to this advice. I find this concept as insidious as selling snake oil to desperate people. Further, Wayne Dyer, who was desperate to heal himself of his cancer, was unable to, despite his championing of Moorjani.
But I am pleasantly surprised by how moved I was by this book. I gained so much from it. I thought about it when I wasn't reading it, and I looked forward to getting back to it. I love her voice and her message.
I'm trying to organize my thoughts into what I loved so much about this book. It is similar in genre to Quiet and Awkward in the style of "here is a quality that the world thinks is negative. In fact, there are many positive aspects to it. Embrace your nature and the benefits of it, and here are some tactics to manage the down sides."
I personally do not consider myself an Empath. Although I relate to some of the qualities (defensiveness regarding crticism, people pleasing), I checked only three items on her 30 item quiz. So I am pretty much NOT an empath. Despite this, I really appreciated her delineation of the qualities of an Empath and the qualities she urges them to embrace and accept. (Ironically, many of them the exact opposite of the qualities in Awkward--it was pretty interesting to read them one after the other, as they seem to be opposite trends in humans.) I loved her point about accepting that she despises confrontation and conflict. I love that she urges people like that to accept this about themselves and presents effective workarounds. I love how she encourages reframing of certain attitudes (like ego and accepting money) and also makes it clear that an Empath doesn't need to "stand up for themselves" or "confront" in the way that most people mean it, because that is so very draining and there are other ways to be effective. I like how she encourages empaths to look within and not follow advice (medical, spiritual or otherwise) that goes against your inner sense--and there is a danger of that, because empaths tend to people please. I like how she encourages us to find authorities who are receptive to input from our inner sense of what we think is right for ourselves.
I like this new trend of books that delineate certain personality types, both the advantages and the pitfalls and encourage them to work with their strengths and workaround the challenges, but above all, don't deny the challenges and don't try to change the aspects about themselves that are part of being this way. An introvert doesn't need to push themself to be less introverted. A people pleaser does not need to push themself to not be a people pleaser. Just learn the best ways to function AS that personality type. There are strengths in being the way we are. Embrace them and harness the strengths, and blossom.
First, the things I am not sold on: I am not sure one can heal oneself of cancer by listening to this advice. I find this concept as insidious as selling snake oil to desperate people. Further, Wayne Dyer, who was desperate to heal himself of his cancer, was unable to, despite his championing of Moorjani.
But I am pleasantly surprised by how moved I was by this book. I gained so much from it. I thought about it when I wasn't reading it, and I looked forward to getting back to it. I love her voice and her message.
I'm trying to organize my thoughts into what I loved so much about this book. It is similar in genre to Quiet and Awkward in the style of "here is a quality that the world thinks is negative. In fact, there are many positive aspects to it. Embrace your nature and the benefits of it, and here are some tactics to manage the down sides."
I personally do not consider myself an Empath. Although I relate to some of the qualities (defensiveness regarding crticism, people pleasing), I checked only three items on her 30 item quiz. So I am pretty much NOT an empath. Despite this, I really appreciated her delineation of the qualities of an Empath and the qualities she urges them to embrace and accept. (Ironically, many of them the exact opposite of the qualities in Awkward--it was pretty interesting to read them one after the other, as they seem to be opposite trends in humans.) I loved her point about accepting that she despises confrontation and conflict. I love that she urges people like that to accept this about themselves and presents effective workarounds. I love how she encourages reframing of certain attitudes (like ego and accepting money) and also makes it clear that an Empath doesn't need to "stand up for themselves" or "confront" in the way that most people mean it, because that is so very draining and there are other ways to be effective. I like how she encourages empaths to look within and not follow advice (medical, spiritual or otherwise) that goes against your inner sense--and there is a danger of that, because empaths tend to people please. I like how she encourages us to find authorities who are receptive to input from our inner sense of what we think is right for ourselves.
I like this new trend of books that delineate certain personality types, both the advantages and the pitfalls and encourage them to work with their strengths and workaround the challenges, but above all, don't deny the challenges and don't try to change the aspects about themselves that are part of being this way. An introvert doesn't need to push themself to be less introverted. A people pleaser does not need to push themself to not be a people pleaser. Just learn the best ways to function AS that personality type. There are strengths in being the way we are. Embrace them and harness the strengths, and blossom.
April 7, 2021
** I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **
This book isn't what I expected it to be. I definitely wasn't expecting lots of info of empath's absorbing other's energy and reading people's auras. I thought it would be geared toward more "sensitive" people. While I feel like I have some empath traits, it's clearly not enough traits to feel like this book was overly beneficial to me. Might be a good read for others, but it just wasn't for me.
This book isn't what I expected it to be. I definitely wasn't expecting lots of info of empath's absorbing other's energy and reading people's auras. I thought it would be geared toward more "sensitive" people. While I feel like I have some empath traits, it's clearly not enough traits to feel like this book was overly beneficial to me. Might be a good read for others, but it just wasn't for me.
April 28, 2023
Tricky. I agree that empathic sensitivity can be understood as a strength, and the sections dealing with this shift in perspective were useful to me. But the meta NDE frame narrative felt oddly forced/imposed—I get that this was the author’s personal experience, but for it to be the lens through which the whole discussion of the empathic as strength is seen ultimately does a disservice to the core message / focus here. Additionally, the cognitive leap from the empathic to manifesting will (a la “the secret”) is a far larger gap than than the author acknowledges. The biggest flaw here is that this book still is written functionally as memoir, but is trying to present an argument. So it comes across super uneven.
March 19, 2021
Sensitive is the New Strong by Anita Moorjani was an interesting read.
Initially, I was very invested in the story. However, for me it became a bit repetitive and boring. This book felt more like a memoir than a self help book to me. I think more advice would be needed to not label this a memoir.
I think this book is maybe more for Empaths who do not already know their worth or what they are. I have always just kind of owned my sensitivity, so while I found some parts relatable other parts I failed to connect with as well.
I received an eARC from Atria through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.
Initially, I was very invested in the story. However, for me it became a bit repetitive and boring. This book felt more like a memoir than a self help book to me. I think more advice would be needed to not label this a memoir.
I think this book is maybe more for Empaths who do not already know their worth or what they are. I have always just kind of owned my sensitivity, so while I found some parts relatable other parts I failed to connect with as well.
I received an eARC from Atria through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.
June 24, 2021
A must read for all empaths and HSPs! I love the framework to view our empathic qualities as gifts and not something we need to minimize, change or alter to fit in to society. We have incredible gifts with our intuitive abilities and sensitivity to others and suffering in the world. I really enjoyed this book and found myself reading it slower than I could have in order to allow time and space to really digest everything. Highly recommend this book!
August 27, 2021
Enlightening, informative, worth the read, good examples of what life as an empath is like.
December 14, 2021
As an empath, it was nice to be validated in this book.
August 21, 2024
During my time with *Sensitive is the New Strong*, I have learned two key aspects. The first is the importance of being open-minded and trying to identify positive learnings that can add value to myself, whether they are spiritual, intellectual, personal, or of any other kind. The second is that it doesn't matter if you stop reading a book because you don't like it, it's not entertaining, or it's simply not contributing to your personal growth.
Unfortunately, *Sensitive is the New Strong* is the first book I have stopped reading before finishing it (I read 85% of it). I made this decision because, although I regret sharing this opinion, I felt that the author was trying to manipulate and challenge my intelligence. This is because the book lacks research on the concepts and facts presented; it is based solely on the opinion of someone who had a negative experience, and it seems the book was written to please people struggling with their personalities. Therefore, I do not share the book's perspective.
Moreover, the author repeated concepts and ideas throughout the book without making progress. She explained topics like victimism, inner voice, and low self-esteem but without depth. This led me to feel frustrated with both the author and myself for purchasing the book.
On the other hand, not everything was negative. I loved the mantras and meditations, and I will definitely use them. Additionally, the book taught me how to learn new things even when I was not enjoying the reading. I learned about the ego, which I find valuable.
I am sorry to express this opinion, but this is how I feel about the book.
Unfortunately, *Sensitive is the New Strong* is the first book I have stopped reading before finishing it (I read 85% of it). I made this decision because, although I regret sharing this opinion, I felt that the author was trying to manipulate and challenge my intelligence. This is because the book lacks research on the concepts and facts presented; it is based solely on the opinion of someone who had a negative experience, and it seems the book was written to please people struggling with their personalities. Therefore, I do not share the book's perspective.
Moreover, the author repeated concepts and ideas throughout the book without making progress. She explained topics like victimism, inner voice, and low self-esteem but without depth. This led me to feel frustrated with both the author and myself for purchasing the book.
On the other hand, not everything was negative. I loved the mantras and meditations, and I will definitely use them. Additionally, the book taught me how to learn new things even when I was not enjoying the reading. I learned about the ego, which I find valuable.
I am sorry to express this opinion, but this is how I feel about the book.
October 15, 2021
A look at how to navigate life as an empath or highly sensitive person. I had to read this with a very open mind as the author has some strange beliefs about auras and other realms, but it was interesting to read about her experiences. Although I don't identify as a full blown empath, I recognize the need for more books on the subject. Lots of focus on self care and self love which I approve of!
January 4, 2024
Any content I read on empaths/HSPs is valuable to me, and I appreciate Anita’s approach to her simple and decisive language to hone her points. However, the most helpful aspect of the book were the meditations at the end of each chapter; I certainly will be revisiting them.
October 19, 2022
{2.75} Loved the concept, didn’t like the execution.
January 4, 2024
I am really happy to come across this book. I believe though that only empats will be able to appreciate it.
April 8, 2025
My 2nd audiobook! Anita's stories and insights helped me understand myself in a way that I never have before. No one really talks about how empaths are impacted by everyday life, why we're always so tired, avoid certain social situations, etc. I also appreciated her cultural perspective.
June 30, 2021
A wonderful tool for empaths to learn how to create healthy boundaries and become empowered.
August 4, 2021
I greatly misunderstood what this book was about before trying to read it -- I thought it was about people whose 5 senses are particularly sensitive, like people with really good hearing who have trouble being in the same room as someone who chews loudly or loud movie theaters or people who are supertasters and get labelled as picky eaters when really it's not their fault. All of which I struggle with and was like, yeah this is my jam. I should have picked up on the "empaths" part of the title...this was much more about feeling people's energy and stuff. I have some friends who are empaths for whom this book would be perfect, but it wasn't the right fit for me. So I'm giving it 3 stars because it wasn't the book's fault that I thought it would be something different.
February 14, 2021
Review will be up on my blog later this week, www.therapybooknook.com/blog
December 15, 2021
Most empathic people consider it a weakness, but in Sensitive is The New Strong by Anita Moorjani, she discusses why being empathic is not only a strength, but is a way to help other empaths find their inner strength as well.
Anita Moorjani is the author of a book titled Dying to be Me, a book in which she tells her story about fighting cancer. In Sensitive is the New Strong, Anita tells her story of after her near-death experience, when she learns that not only is she empathic, but she is in the perfect situation to help others with their empathic abilities. Sensitive is the New Strong is a new kind of self-help book: geared toward those who absorb others’ feelings, she gives actionable tips on how to avoid the burnout that inevitably comes with these abilities.
I love so much about Sensitive is the New Strong, even if parts of it fell a little flat for me. Anita is Hindu, so much of her advice is geared toward her beliefs. I am a Christian, so many of her religious views felt wrong to me, because they didn’t jibe with my own beliefs. Luckily, I was able to take some things away from this book, such as affirmations and such, and discard the things that I couldn’t accept, such as connecting with my “inner mystic,” or my “spirit guide.”
Anita’s Writing Style
I really enjoyed the author’s writing, because of when she gives personal anecdotes to back up her advice. I especially enjoyed reading about her fight with cancer, and her decision to embrace her empathic side. As an empath myself, I was able to relate to her in quite a few different ways.
Anita’s Religious Views
As I stated before, Anita Moorjani is Hindu, and her religious beliefs are everywhere in this book, from mentioning finding her “inner mystic,” to outright stating her religious views. While I don’t agree with Hinduism in any form, as a Christian, I do believe in finding the nuggets of truth in anything, in order to live my life as well as I can. I was able to find some things in this book that didn’t outright disagree with my Christian views, so I was able to look at those objectively and use them in my own empathic journey.
I absolutely loved this author’s choice of title. Her reasoning behind it is pretty cool too. Anita believes that being sensitive to others, and being able to feel emotions and energies from others, is a sign of strength, rather than a sign of weakness. I agreed with this wholeheartedly, and it is the main reason why I kept reading this book, even after seeing her Hindu beliefs immersed in almost every word. I’ve read books before that I didn’t agree with that I wasn’t able to finish, but I thought there was enough in this book that I related to that made finishing it worth it.
Anita Moorjani is the author of a book titled Dying to be Me, a book in which she tells her story about fighting cancer. In Sensitive is the New Strong, Anita tells her story of after her near-death experience, when she learns that not only is she empathic, but she is in the perfect situation to help others with their empathic abilities. Sensitive is the New Strong is a new kind of self-help book: geared toward those who absorb others’ feelings, she gives actionable tips on how to avoid the burnout that inevitably comes with these abilities.
I love so much about Sensitive is the New Strong, even if parts of it fell a little flat for me. Anita is Hindu, so much of her advice is geared toward her beliefs. I am a Christian, so many of her religious views felt wrong to me, because they didn’t jibe with my own beliefs. Luckily, I was able to take some things away from this book, such as affirmations and such, and discard the things that I couldn’t accept, such as connecting with my “inner mystic,” or my “spirit guide.”
Anita’s Writing Style
I really enjoyed the author’s writing, because of when she gives personal anecdotes to back up her advice. I especially enjoyed reading about her fight with cancer, and her decision to embrace her empathic side. As an empath myself, I was able to relate to her in quite a few different ways.
Anita’s Religious Views
As I stated before, Anita Moorjani is Hindu, and her religious beliefs are everywhere in this book, from mentioning finding her “inner mystic,” to outright stating her religious views. While I don’t agree with Hinduism in any form, as a Christian, I do believe in finding the nuggets of truth in anything, in order to live my life as well as I can. I was able to find some things in this book that didn’t outright disagree with my Christian views, so I was able to look at those objectively and use them in my own empathic journey.
I absolutely loved this author’s choice of title. Her reasoning behind it is pretty cool too. Anita believes that being sensitive to others, and being able to feel emotions and energies from others, is a sign of strength, rather than a sign of weakness. I agreed with this wholeheartedly, and it is the main reason why I kept reading this book, even after seeing her Hindu beliefs immersed in almost every word. I’ve read books before that I didn’t agree with that I wasn’t able to finish, but I thought there was enough in this book that I related to that made finishing it worth it.
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