How To Be Highly Sensitive and Empowered: A Revolutionary Healing Guide for Empaths

by Jane Novak

A practical guide outlining how empaths can protect themselves from sensory overload and burnout. A step-by-step transformational journey of unlocking and reclaiming energy and power.

Have you been told you are “too sensitive” or “overly emotional”? Being an empath can be an incredible gift of compassion and connection. When unchecked, empathic insights can leave people feeling depleted and overwhelmed.

Sensitivity is a strength. How to Be Highly Sensitive and Empowered offers a healing roadmap, from Step 1 "Master energy awareness" to Step 7 "Activate and share your gift". Tools include breathing exercises; powerful visualizations; inner voice journaling; how to create "transition breaks" to overcome energy drains. How to Be Sensitive and Empowered



This book helps empaths move from being in a state of turmoil to becoming comfortable in their skin and more confident in relationships and interactions. Discover the freedom empathy unlocks in all areas of leadership, creativity and love.

Genres: Self Help, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Psychology

192 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2022

About the author

Librarian's note: There is more than one author on Goodreads with this name.

See also Jane Emery

Reviews

[sabina👩🏻‍🎨 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god. FINALLY, a book for me! I have always been a sensitive person - sensitive to loud noise, sensitive to arguments or tension in a room, I get physically exhausted in huge crowds or rooms over a prolonged period of time, and for the first time, I feel like I'm not alone because of this book. It's hard when you're just labelled sensitive, and the onus is on you to change, when it fact it cannot be helped! I have found very often that people excuse their behaviour because apparently I'm just 'sensitive', and that means they have permission to act how the please and blame me if I take offence! This book has a bank of tools and strategies for empaths to feel empowered without feeling overwhelmed (which let's be real - happens quite often!). The strategies are really simple and useful and they are something that could be incorporated into a daily routine to check in on how you're feeling. It's a really good book that could be dipped in and out of as much as you'd like.

[Sanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The field I work in attracts a lot of empaths. And in general in my personal life I like to surround myself with people who are inquisitive, in tune with their emotions or simply prioritize working on themselves. These are just some of the reasons I was intrigued to read this book, the main one being the topic also aligns with my personal journey of learning to better regulate my own emotions and use my sensitivity as constructive tool especially in my work.

Jane Novak offers some really interesting insights into the lives and experiences of people who are highly sensitive. Western world in particular seems very uncomfortable with these emotional deviations from the norm. Being told you're "too sensitive", to "toughen up", to "control your emotions" are not very conducive to developing healthy coping mechanism, self-acceptance and also often lead empaths to start acting in a way that might be more socially acceptable but is not necessarily true to who and how they really are. I really enjoyed this read. In particular I enjoyed the passion that author brings to the subject. It is obvious that it's something close to her heart and she shares a lot of personal experiences in it. I also love self-help books that offer very concrete examples of exercises and simple way to apply the knowledge shared and this book had plenty of those.

A lot of the book relies heavily on concepts and terminology of the Law of Attraction. In my personal learning journey I found a lot of overlap between these ideas and principles of mindfulness or logic behind Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I also recognize that not everyone is familiar or comfortable with these concepts so keep that in mind when picking up this book. I found that not every single piece of advice is something that I would choose for myself personally but then again I didn't expect it to. Though I understand the author's stance on alcohol and reasons behind it, at times it came across a bit too preachy in that regard. Additionally, I find Tony Robbins very problematic and I know that the fact that the author mentions him as a mentor will be off-putting to many who actually might benefit from reading this book. But that is just my 5 cents.

To road to self-acceptance and learning how to set and maintain boundaries is often very bumpy for empaths and I think this book offers some very concrete, very helpful ideas on how to make that journey easier. I know I've already tried some of the exercises from the book and found them very helpful.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Watkins Publishing and the author for providing me with an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I opened this book, I loved it, and immediately resonated and learned some things about myself I didn’t know, but unfortunately the book is way too “woo woo” for me. Maybe later I’ll resonate more but as it went on, I found it a bit Hokey Pokey. Elements of this book are fascinating and enlightening but some of it isn’t my cup of tea . Still worth a read

[KC · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 / 5

starts off with great advice, but ends up very repetitive -- same advice is offered again and again, just in different wording. very grateful for this book, but maybe not for me

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Q:
I always had a well-developed sixth sense; even when I was unaware, I could see when people were lying, sense the energy forms, and even felt the pain of others. I also felt as if someone was always near me, as if the Universe was taking care of me – I just couldn’t put my finger on it. (c)
Q:
“How do I calm my anxiety?”
First, understand what anxiety is. It is a sign of disconnecting from your Source and jumping on a negative energy stream. Anxiety is a sign of control and lack of trust that things will work out for you. When we lose trust, we start trusting in the strength of our small self rather than the strength of the uplifting energy stream that flows through us and is our own innate nature of peace. And that is what A Course in Miracles defines as fear. When we feel fear, we spiritually fall asleep. When you awaken your observer within and recognize what anxiety is and shine your light on it, it will go away. Anxiety doesn’t like to be observed. It likes to sneak in and pretend to be a big deal in your life. Say: “I see you” to your anxiety, and don’t try to fight it. Just observe what you feel and experience at that moment. Of course, always reach out for help on this matter. When you stop being silent about anxiety, it loses its power over you. (c)

[Kate Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book was really eyeopening for me. I usually describe myself as an empath, but when reading this book I felt like so much of this book was describing exactly me. I could relate to it so much.
I really liked that aspect, and it made me feel like I wasn't on my own, or weird in my way of thinking.

The main thing I didn't like about this book however, was how repetitive it was. I kept thinking while reading 'i've read this bit before' - it also was very very strongly against alcohol. Absolutely fine, and I totally get that it's something not good for you. But the topic of alcohol kept coming up and it became a bit preachy in that sense.

Overall i enjoyed the book, but just wanted more!

[Mikaela (Booklover1974) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars

The last four years I’ve realized that I’m a highly sensitive person and reading books about other HSP’s shows me that I’m not alone anymore. There are other people in the world who struggles with the same things I do. I finally understand why I’m losing so much energy when I try so hard to be like everybody else. To fit in is a struggle.

I didn’t like everything in the book, sometimes it was a bit too spiritual for me, but I got a lot of tools with me that I’ll think about.



Special thanks to NetGalley and @watkinswisdom
for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

[Diamond Bolden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this was a good read. Funny enough, my partner found this book for me and suggested that it may help me navigate certain situations I find myself frequently in. There were many topics in this book, specifically the discussion of manifestation, that I found inspiring. Yes, many of the things that they spoke about, were repetitive throughout the book. However, I think it was necessary to show how all of the concepts the author was speaking on correlate to each other and ones well-being. I would recommend.

[Jus · Rating 3 out of 5]

“How to be highly sensitive and empowered: a revolutionary healing guide for empaths” by Jane Novak. This book was recommended to me by a friend who owns a bookstore. It’s one of those self-help, psychology thinking type of books. I liked how it had tasks to help with your self healing: “14 day mental diet”; “7 steps to reclaim your power”.

I was going through some stuff when I started this book. This book is one of those books where you can open a chapter at any stage, read it, practice it and go away and then come back to. It’s a bit hippie, but why not give it a chance?!

[Jade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. With interesting concepts and exercises for empaths exploring how to better manage their energy in a fast-paced world, this will be helpful for that reader. The exercises were clear and well described so as to be constructive. Hopefully this will find its right audience to help.

[Jake Sikora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a good read. Always been a sensitive, as well as, being told I was sensitive. Also, felt that I never quite fit in. This book had so great perspectives and exercises. Sometimes I think the author veered somewhat off on tangents but again overall a good read for the curious and like minded people.

[Anamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was meant to find me. I never knew I was an empath and a light worker until I read this. I feel so empowered with just a few days of trying the exercises that Novak suggests. I’m so happy I read this.

[Priscilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book 🤍 unfortunately I believe it is very repetitive as it says the same thing over and over in different wording

[Haillee Shumway · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t a bad book it was just very repetitive to me.

[Em]

DNF

[Madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time diving into “self help” books and I really enjoyed this one and related to so many things.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small and lovely book filled with reminders and tips to point us back to ourselves.