The Power of Naming High Sensitivity for HSPs

If you’ve ever felt like it was difficult to accept your trait of high sensitivity, especially as it relates to being labeled with the word “sensitive,” then this episode of The Happy HSP Podcast is for you. I’m joined by writing coach, author, and founder of The Introverts Paper Playground, Nicola McDonald, who found that recognizing and validating her sensitivity shifted her from refusing to acknowledge her sensitivity to embracing it wholeheartedly.

It’s packed with lots of inspiration and understanding in and around themes of rejection and self-acceptance with lots of encouragement and wisdom along the way. I hope you enjoy it!

What Nicola Shares:

• How raising a sensitive child helped her recognize her own sensitivity.
• The impact of finally naming sensitivity in her life.
• Why self-acceptance is the foundation for thriving as an HSP.
• How she uses her newfound appreciation of high sensitivity in her work.

Topics covered:

• The struggle of feeling “too sensitive” in a world that doesn’t always understand.
• The relief and empowerment that comes from naming sensitivity for the gift it is.
• Reflections that come along with the HSP parenting journey.
• Moving from suppression and overwhelm to authenticity and strength.

About Nicola McDonald:

Nicola McDonald is a creative writing coach, author, and founder of The Introverts Paper Playground, an online writing school designed for introverts, highly sensitive people, high sensation seekers, and creatives who need space to breathe and express themselves on the page.

Nicola uses writing as a tool for expression, escape, and emotional clarity, and she now coaches others to do the same. Whether she’s supporting creatives in finding their voice or bringing writing for wellbeing into the workplace, she’s passionate about using words to nurture sensitivity rather than suppress it.

This September, Nicola is launching her six-month course, Authoring: From Idea to Manuscript, where she’ll guide up to 15 students inside The Introverts Paper Playground — all while writing her next book alongside them.

Follow along with Nicola’s journey:

Instagram: @nmcdonaldcreativewritingcoach

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolamcdonaldcreativewritingcoach

Website: https://the-introverts-paper-playground.teachable.com/

Let’s Connect:

🤍 Share your biggest takeaway or follow us on Instagram @happyhsppodcast — we’d love to hear from you!

🎧 Subscribe and leave a review to help more HSPs find this space: thehappyhsppodcast.buzzsprout.com

📩 Want to be a guest on the show? Reach out to Kimberly at: kmarshall@happyhspcoaching.com

📖 Learn about Kimberly’s work: happyhspcoaching.com

About Kimberly:

After 20 years in the publishing industry working for companies like Time Inc., Monster.com, and W. W. Norton, Kimberly Marshall left her corporate work to create a more nurturing career that better suited her as an HSP. After repeatedly struggling with burnout and low confidence in the workplace, she now helps HSPs create careers that bring them lots of purpose, meaning, and joy. With the Happy HSP Podcast, Kimberly hopes to shed more light on the reality of living with high sensitivity and inspire more HSPs to embrace their empathetic, generous, and loving natures.

• Hosted/produced by Kimberly Marshall
• Edited by Fonzie Try Media
• Artwork by Tara Corola