Living As A Highly Sensitive Man: Redefining Masculinity And Resilience

Musician Bruce Springsteen recalls: “My mother was kind and compassionate and very considerate of others’ feelings. She trod through the world with purpose, but softly, lightly. All those were the things that aligned with my own spirit. That was who I was. They came naturally to me. My father looked at all those things as weaknesses." (From his autobiography, Born to Run.)

There are a growing number of men in the arts and other professions who talk about their traits and inner life as sensitive people.

Author and mentor for Highly Sensitive Men, William Allen notes:

"We need all types. We do need those people…let's say if it's a bell curve, the people that are lower into sensitivity, they are people that may take more risk, they may take more impulsive action."

He adds in this video: "In many ways there are people that push culture forward, they push things forward. In our society, we tends to praise those people and reward them very, very well.

"But what's really cool about what's going on now in the world, especially with more awareness about high sensitivity, is the other end of the curve is just as important as the curve that goes out takes the chances and takes the risk.

"I realize there are some high sensation seeking sensitive people, and that's fine too, but what I'm talking about is the balance we need to have to keep the ship upright."

Learn about his his course On Being a Highly Sensitive Man, published through the Highly Sensitive Human Academy of Jules De Vitto.

"Alongside 16 in-depth modules, this self-paced program features exclusive interviews with multiple experts who specialise in sensitivity, psychology, resilience, and personal growth."

This image shows presenters; visit the site above for details.

Jules De Vitto commented about teaming up with William Allen to offer his course:

"As a woman, I’ve long witnessed the harm that unhealthy, performative masculinity can cause - not just to women, but to men themselves, and to entire communities.

"I believe we are at a turning point, and that our future depends on a new kind of leadership - one that comes not from domination or ego, but from sensitivity, strength, and integrity.

"The truth is, I want to live in a world where men feel safe to be tender, thoughtful, and emotionally attuned.

“I want boys to grow up knowing that being kind and perceptive isn’t something to hide, but something to honour."

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The video excerpt is from Embracing Your Sensitive Awareness | Sensitive Stories Podcast Ep. 36 with William Allen - by Sensitive Strengths, therapist April Snow.

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The image is from the cover of his book On Being a Sensitive Man: Success Strategies for Harnessing Your Highly Sensing Nature [Amazon] [Bookshop]

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From post on his site by William Allen:

"We live in a culture that values emotional detachment, stone-cold decision making, logical, warrior-like capabilities that seem so distant from the core behaviors of the clan of highly sensitive people.

"Our culture views sensitivity as a weakness, a lack of discipline, control, or maturity. An unfair and false assessment, if there ever was one.

"This judgment is especially hard on HSP males, who already have difficulty with the trait in lieu of expectations the culture sets for masculine behavior."

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