Lies of Protection...

                It's October now, so it's only fitting that I would have a bone to pick today!  One thing I'm really becoming aware of, not just lately, but over the course of my life, is that people seem to think that just because I'm a highly sensitive person, that I need to be protected from the truth somehow.  People  actually find it perfectly acceptable, or they will completely attempt to rationalize withholding the truth from me or telling an all out lie to me-- just to protect me from having feelings.  Or maybe it's really to protect themselves from having to hear about my feelings?  Hmmmm, which is it? 

                Well, let me set something straight.  Being highly sensitive does NOT make me weak.  It does not make me unable to handle my feelings.  It does not make me act inappropriately when I experience feelings.  I have never assaulted anyone out of anger.  I have never been hospitalized for extreme sadness.  So what?  I feel intensely.  I may feel anger.  I may cry.  I may start a discussion with you about your truth.  I may offer my opinion about it.  What gives anyone the right to take that away from me?  I have the same right to have feelings and to express those feelings as anyone else does.  Please stop trying to decide for me whether I get to experience hurt feelings, feel sadness, worry, anger, discomfort,  or etc.   

                When someone withholds the truth from me or delivers lies to me to "protect my feelings", this is what it's telling me.

·         You perceive me as weak or incapable of handling your truth.
·         You don't trust me to handle your truth in a responsible manner.
·         You don't feel that I'm worthy enough to deserve the truth you serve to others.
·         You don't feel that I'm important enough to receive your truth.
·         You don't value my opinion or my response.
·         Deceitfulness is easier for you than consequences. 
·         You feel power in making decisions on my behalf.
·         You are fearful of opposition. 
·         You are fearful of my emotions or are incapable of handling my expression of those feelings.

                So, in essence, delivering lies or withholding truths "for my protection" only serves to damage my trust and my opinion of my worthiness, thus robbing me of any intended "protection"  at all. 

                Think about all of the highly sensitive individuals in your midst.  Do you serve them lies of protection?  STOP!  Serve them the truth!  Your egoic opinion that they are unable to handle it, is likely wrong.  Give them the respectful opportunity to work through life's real issues for themselves and learn to process life as it really is, not how you would like to spoon feed it to them.