Sensitivity Training

Last week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy on ABC began with a seminar for the doctors in sensitivity training. Interesting.

Sensitivity is something that often comes attached with a negative connotation. If a man get emotional about anything, he’s too sensitive. If a woman cries about a bad remark made about her, she’s too sensitive. The key word here is too. Too much, it’s overbearing. As in, your sensitivity on this subject is more than the average amount alotted…respectively.

Unless we have some high form of self-control or the ability to be out of the house most of the day, the majority of people watch television. The average person, if you will, watches tv. They watch movies. They surf the internet. You can’t do any of these things without encountering something that pulls at the heartstrings. Whether it’s in a good way, bad way, or anything inbetween. I’m guilty of being de-sensitised. Which goes along with my point…we are constantly being encouraged to shove emotions aside. Perhaps not directly, but on another level. We all know that in the American culture, if a man cries, it is suggested that he is less masculine than a man who doesn’t- no matter what the situation (except perhaps death). A woman, although more accepted as being emotional, is still prompted to repress emotions.

Now this is not a commentary on the hypersensitive, if you will, that will cry over anything. No. I’m talking about simple, natural, instinctive emotions that we as a culture (American) are not encouraged to share. I feel like sensitivity is taboo. Feeling our emotions is taboo. Feeling. Is. Taboo. My only thought parellel with this idea is that the reason why this happens is because when we feel, one strong emotion could be fear. Feeling is scary! It can be hard, it can be unpleasant. But isn’t it necessary? Isn’t being sensitive to bad, nasty, happy, situations a good thing? How else would we learn to appreciate life?

In one respect I feel like sensitivity is encouraged- to be sensitive to others’ needs. In a world that is inherantly concerned with the self, we are reprimanded if we outwardly express this concern over that of others. Shouldn’t there be a balance? Why do we have to feel that this is a one way road? Why can’t it go both ways?

I’m learning that being sensitive, understanding, caring to myself is just as important as doing it for others. I know in the long run, that’s how it should be. You have to give yourself credit, take care of yourself. Not before others, but with others. Being sensitive to your own feelings is not something we should repress- we should embrace it! Embrace your emotions people!

Thanks and Keep Squeezing,

A.