65: Slow Down to Be More You
With Tara Jackson, Creativity Mentor + Visionary Guide
Do you often feel disconnected from yourself? In this episode, I talk with Tara Jackson about reclaiming your power to feel more in tune with your inner gifts and:
• What it means to be embodied and what embodied power looks like in your life
• How to welcome in your personal power and stop giving it away to everyone else
• The role of creativity, nature, and quiet space in reclaiming your strengths
• Embracing your sensitivity as a strength
Tara is a creativity mentor, visionary guide, and the catalyst behind transformational journeys for leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives ready to step fully into their power. She helps people reclaim their creative essence, turn bold ideas into reality, and write and publish books that amplify their message and expand their impact.
Keep in touch with Tara:
• Website: https://empathpreneurs.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtarajackson
Resources Mentioned:
• Embodied Power by Tara Jackson: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781916529717
• Embodied Power Bonuses + Resources: https://empathpreneurs.org/embodied-power-book
• Embodied Wisdom Oracle Deck: https://empathpreneurs.org/product/embodied-wisdom
Thanks for listening!
You can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths
If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs!
This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional. Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.
Episode Transcript
Tara Jackson: 0:00
We are here because we feel so much. We know what the world needs to bring it into balance, the sensitivity, just to slow down, to live more cyclically, to allow rest and honor the different qualities of humans and just so many things that sensitivity can show you, can bring you, can open you up to. This is so much.
April Snow: 0:25
Welcome to Sensitive Stories, the podcast for the people who live with hearts and eyes wide open. I'm your host, psychotherapist and author April Snow. I invite you to join me as I deep dive into rich conversations with fellow highly sensitive people that will inspire you to live a more fulfilling life as an HSP without all the overwhelm. In this episode, I talk with Tara Jackson about slowing down to listen to what your body is telling you, finding your personal power in the quiet within, and why sensitivity and softness is actually a gift in disguise. Tara is a creativity mentor, visionary guide, and the catalyst behind transformational journeys for leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives ready to fully step into their power. She helps people reclaim their creative essence, turn bold ideas into reality, and write and publish books that amplify their message and expand their impact. For more HSP resources and to see behind the scenes video from the podcast, join me on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube at Sensitive Strengths, or sign up for my email list. Links are in the show notes and at sensitivestories.com. And just a reminder that this episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional. Let's dive in the Tara. I'm so happy to have you on the podcast again.
Tara Jackson: 2:13
Thank you.
April Snow: 2:14
Thank you. And so listeners might remember you were on the podcast before, I believe it was episode 43. We talked about sensitive leadership, but now we're gonna do a little pivot. We're gonna be exploring the theme of your new book, Embodied Power, which is exciting. Yes. So I wonder for folks who may not know what that word means, embodied, could we just describe what it is and maybe why it's important?
Tara Jackson: 2:38
Yeah, I mean, it's as it sounds. It's literally bringing things into the body and like giving the body a say in what we do, how we be, how we are, how we show up, and then how that, you know, comes into our lives, different areas of our lives. But it's you know, really coming back into the body because we're taught from you know the minute we can read and write and do things that it's all up here in the head. And we, you know, we don't acknowledge how we feel when we're hungry, when we're thirsty, when we're tired, just our body's messages. So it's just a real coming back into the body and starting to get to know it again and coming, showing up, leading from that place ultimately, in how I see it.
April Snow: 3:20
Yeah, it's so true that we disconnect from the body so much just to keep pushing through to keep going, especially as sensitive people. We disconnect from kind of our biggest source of power, creativity, information, intuition, which is emotion, and we lose that, like our greatest strength. And I love that you said give the body a say. And it can be so simple as eat when you're hungry, move when you have that urge, right? There's easy ways to be embodied in a more intentional way. So, what does embodied power look like? So, getting into the theme of your book, what does that look like for us in our lives?
Tara Jackson: 4:02
Well, like you were just touching on right now, it is, you know, that reconnection with the body, getting to know its messages, its signals, when it's a no, when it's a yes, when it's tired, when it's hungry, you know, if it's thirsty. And again, we just we're so unfamiliar with these things that are so simple, yet to keep us alive and you know, here to help us thrive ultimately. But when we get to know it and you know, start to honor it, listen to it, and give it what it needs, and acknowledge it's can be hard in our current society and way of living and being, and you know, all the things, but doing what we can to come back to that and yeah, ultimately let it let it speak, let it have its say, like choosing our body's needs first, and you know, letting go of the conditioning and people's expectations, people pleasing, all the things that we're taught to how we hang how we should be living and doing and being, and yeah, coming back to ourselves ultimately. And you know, you touched on intuition, for example, creativity, those things. So, I mean, it's layered and there's a lot of different ways one can get into embodied power, but uh on a simple level, it is that I think coming back in getting to know your body and becoming aware of its messages for you.
April Snow: 5:18
Yeah, yeah, it sounds like just getting to know yourself or reconnect with yourself. And I almost see it as kind of these layers, like starting with hunger, thirst, movement, and then going deeper down. Would that be true into intuition or creativity?
Tara Jackson: 5:35
I feel that definitely, yeah. And it often is start with the basics, and you could even look at it like the lens of the chakras as well. And so back to basics at the root, your survival and what you need to live, to eat, to breathe, to feed yourself, those sorts of things. And then you can move into the next one, which is sort of creativity and passion and desires. What are they? Those sorts of things. And then it isn't quite like in order, but yeah, if you look at those different chakras in the body, if you're familiar with them, you get to understand those needs and desires for each of them. And I guess that can also help open up awareness of yeah, what you might need and what the body's asking for ultimately.
April Snow: 6:12
Yes, exactly. And I wonder how do we start that process? So, how do we start listening? So, I'm just thinking about if I'm not doing that already, and I have been through this process in my life, but it's been many years since I started this shift. And I do remember at a time where I wasn't aware of those bodily impulses or sensations, not really recognizing when I was hungry or getting sick or not understanding my emotions. And it was a little bit of a messy crash back in. But just thinking about what are the first steps if you could share an example, if there's an example you could think of of if I'm listening, what's something I could do today to start hearing myself or turn my attention back inward?
Tara Jackson: 7:03
That is such a good question. Because yeah, there isn't one straight thing, and like you, it was a messy journey back into that. And then sort of just happened in a way, but obviously did take time. Yes. I think it's as simple as even when you're faced with a choice, you know, you think you're hungry, or you know, it's just taking that time, that moment, a few minutes. Okay, I'm hungry or I'm thirsty or I'm angry or something's going on, and just stopping. Yeah, right. What am I and just taking a minute, maybe just to breathe and feel well, what's really going on here? Am I, you know, if you're hungry, am I really hungry? And just let yourself see. Maybe you are, and you might not be able to tell. That's okay. Maybe, maybe you're thirsty. Maybe you are actually angry, and there's deeper levels, and you know, you could journal or you could just take a minute and feel into what's actually going on underneath here. And we don't do that, we're not taught to do that. But it's these little moments of awareness that then add up to this sort of like, oh, I know myself, but it does stop with that myth that you have to stop somewhere. You can't just continue, continue, continue. You have to stop and get to know yourself. Yeah. What would you do with that?
April Snow: 8:11
Yeah. No, I love that because when you said, Am I really hungry? And there could be a backing up, just could be a broader question of what's really going on here. Because if I am reaching for something to eat, am I hungry or am I frustrated about something? Am I trying to self-soothe in some way? So yeah, just having that pause, which is something I often encourage my clients to do. Let me just check this impulse out for a moment. And you might not get the answer at first, but just having the practice of pausing, being curious, asking yourself those questions, what's going on? Am I really hungry? Am I angry? Am I tired? Have I had a long day? Just being having some exploration around that, I think is a perfect place to start. It's where I would I would start too. Because we don't know unless we take a look.
Tara Jackson: 8:59
Exactly. And even just expressing how you're feeling can actually be very powerful because let's say you're feeling all over the place and it's like I'm angry or I'm hungry. And even saying it, you realize actually, no, maybe I'm not really, or I don't know. There's something about the power of even speaking it that enables you to discern what's really going on as well. Like just to even give yourself that space to actually connect with what you're feeling and voice it, or you know, think it can be very powerful in helping to build awareness within. I think. Absolutely.
April Snow: 9:28
Because it's, I think as soon as you say it out loud, you can tell if it sounds true or not. Exactly.
Tara Jackson: 9:34
Right. I mean it's like intuition, you know, some people will feel it, some people will need to speak it, some people might want to journal it, or different as we get to know ourselves. I think even the different senses might play up more for different people as we're getting to know ourselves. And so it's also maybe experimenting a bit to see what way works for you to bring more awareness to yourself and your body.
April Snow: 9:54
Yeah. That's such a good point that find the mode of expression that you're more likely to be able to tap into, whether it be verbal or written or movement or any other way that you express yourself, those are all valuable.
Tara Jackson: 10:10
Exactly. And you know, that's also like having space held. So a lot of my work is about holding workshops with just a question and then space to allow people to feel into an answer. And often it can be varying questions, but having that space, you know, so if you can do a workshop or have some prompts even just to allow yourself to start to get to know what might be going on. Space is very, very like powerful for getting to know your body, yourself, your power within space. Space always is good, which is you know very important for highly sensitive people, of course.
April Snow: 10:43
It is, it absolutely is. And I think as humans we need space, but as highly sensitive people, we need even more space because we're taking so much in, and there's so much noise and pressure to be doing and moving so quickly these days that space is so precious, it's so rare. And all those moments of space that we used to have built in have been taken away because we're on a screen or there's you know input coming in some way. So, yeah, reclaiming space could be really powerful part of the process.
Tara Jackson: 11:18
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I agree with that completely.
April Snow: 11:22
Yeah, and it's such a good reminder that it doesn't have to be complicated, it can be simple.
Tara Jackson: 11:26
Yeah. I think it is simple. That's the thing we overcomplicate it so much.
April Snow: 11:31
It's true.
Tara Jackson: 11:32
I mean, and also that we don't need to go into this, but like the even the wellness industry complicates it by adding on things saying you need stuff to help you come back, but you don't really, you don't really starts within and then it can build out, you know.
April Snow: 11:45
But it's so true, you know. Just taking five minutes to sit quietly by your window could do more than I don't know, buying products or whatever it is. Yeah, some nature.
Tara Jackson: 11:59
I mean, we haven't even said nature, like getting back into nature is the number one way just to calm your nervous system, your body, your being, ground, and help you start to connect with yourself again, even without an intention. Like you could just be in nature for five minutes a day, every day. And I guarantee you, at the end of if you did it for a couple of weeks or something, you'd feel different, you'd know yourself better than you did at the beginning. You just would. You would your body knows what it's doing. It's like homeostasis, it comes back to itself slowly, you know, even in a tiny, tiny way, I believe, anyway.
April Snow: 12:29
I agree. Yeah, I agree. Because I think we believe we have to like consciously go through everything to move it through or heal it, but you can do so much somatically in nature, by osmosis, where your body, yeah, it's trained or trained, sounds like a weird word, but it's inclined to heal itself. Exactly, exactly.
Tara Jackson: 12:51
Yes, and yeah, and movement, like you said as well, is a big one to any kind of movement, just helps agree out here and come back into the body.
April Snow: 12:59
Yes, exactly. And it works all those stress hormones through and just helps release them. Same with being in nature, right? I don't know all the science behind it, but I know just being in nature, you start to absorb elements, and it's naturally calming. Exactly. Exactly, yeah.
Tara Jackson: 13:17
So there's many ways to get back to it.
April Snow: 13:19
So many ways, yeah. So as we're creating some space for ourselves, we're maybe slowing things down, getting into nature, or just giving ourselves some space for expression. But how do we make sure that we're not giving things away to others? Because a lot of times as we start to reclaim our personal power, we welcome it in, we welcome in some of that healing. We may be inclined as HSPs to want to just give it away. So, how can we kind of write that balance and stay rooted in our personal power?
Tara Jackson: 13:51
Yeah, and then again, it's a bit of a journey and everyone's different, of course.
April Snow: 13:54
For sure.
Tara Jackson: 13:55
So I think at the beginning, when that happens, it's definitely about boundaries. Because it's almost like you kind of reclaimed part of yourself who you are, you're getting to know it. It's a bit like an early blossoming relationship or a spring, but you know, a little bud when it's still tender, delicate. So I think there's something about protecting it a little bit, having boundaries around your energy, your power, whatever you really want to call it. Just this understanding that right now you might be a bit more tender and vulnerable, and you need to look out for you. And of course, you still do it later, but even more so in the beginning, I think, because it is so easy, just probably because of patterns, conditioning, habits. You I've got more, I can give more kind of thing, or whatever it might be. And so I think realizing you almost have to let your nervous system get used to it as well, like as you increase your capacity or whatever else you know is going on underneath and within the layers. And yeah, it does take some time of just kind of holding that, letting it be uncomfortable. Maybe it's like, oh, I have more energy, I've got more space, I've got more time. This is weird. And you almost feel like, yeah, you have to give it away, but you have to almost get used to that, I think, in the beginning, whatever that looks like for you, those boundaries and that kind of protection, you know, of your energy, your space, etc. And then once you get to know that, it's kind of discernment, I think. You know, what is aligned for me? Like, so then you start to ask this yes, no, or you play a bit with it, you get to know it like with anything. And you know, if I do this, support this, how am I gonna feel afterwards? Is it gonna drain me for the next two days, six days? You almost you get to know yourself again, and you'll keep getting to know yourself as you evolve with this. And so, yeah, I think that's some of the ways just to start to get to you know what you could do to not give it away determinement, and then it's a journey from there, and just getting to know how your energy feels when you've done certain things, that sort of thing.
April Snow: 15:47
Yeah. Yeah, it's a good reminder that we can check in with ourselves after how am I feeling? What do I need? But also we can do that preemptively before we make a decision, before we decide to support someone else or show up for someone else. You know, how am I doing? What do I need? Do I have enough bandwidth to move forward? And I appreciate you using the metaphor of like the little bud because that's exactly how it feels at the beginning. Like a little bit vulnerable, a little precious. We don't have quite those strong roots yet. So we have to be really gentle with ourselves, and it's okay to protect yourself. You know, I just was thinking, like, oh, protect your power. I was just saying that to myself in my mind as you were talking. Like, that's okay to do. We don't have to give it all away.
Tara Jackson: 16:34
No, absolutely. And just going back to what you said about yeah, the roots, I think it is growing those roots, and they do have to grow deeper for you to be able to flourish more and give, you know, grow your branches. And and that can take different forms. Something I just that came into my mind was I like to do sort of challenges with myself and have done for years now. And they often actually revolve around the things like the basic nourishment, nutrition, kind of things like that. So I play a lot with fasting and cleansing just because it's something that I enjoy and I live in the tropics, it's also quite conducive to it. Yes, and a lot easier definitely than winters in the far northern hemisphere. But so I'd often do things like just eating really healthy live foods for you know two weeks or something just to really experiment, cutting out all processed foods, caffeine. You know, I'd stopped drinking alcohol, which was came through experimenting, not drinking alcohol for a month, and just realizing how I changed, and we know it doesn't help us, but it took me a number of challenges or times you know, experimenting with certain things to sort of get to know myself and deepen my roots so that I can you know get to know myself even better, show up even more for myself in my power and do more things, be more, etc., that I want that I'm choosing for my life. So there's something around, yeah, you get to play with it a little bit. I seem to say, not everyone else will, but it's like what supports you, or it could be journaling every day. I didn't morning pages for six months or for a month or even a week, and just noticing how you feel, what nourishes you, what sustains you, what builds you. And as you do this, I know you're also aware of these things, it just builds your toolbox of what kind of feeds you and what nourishes you so that you get to you know bring more of that and you into the world as you want to, I guess.
April Snow: 18:14
Yeah, exactly. I love that idea of carving out these intentional spaces. I've also been a person who's done, I used to work in natural foods before I became a therapist. So tried all the things.
Tara Jackson: 18:26
Yes, yeah, love it.
April Snow: 18:27
And it is kind of my version of fun, like you know, my version of fun is like getting together with friends and meditating or you know, doing things like that, right? Doing readings, just a bunch of HSPs connecting on a spiritual level. Exactly. But having those times where it's all about self-exploration and trying things on. And because you're saying, you know, like you said, with alcohol, you didn't really know the impact, maybe, or that you didn't want to incorporate it until you took a break. And you're like, oh yeah. And the same has happened to me with certain foods or you know, things that I've done in my life where it's like, oh, I actually feel a lot better or more connected to myself. And I didn't realize how I was feeling before.
Tara Jackson: 19:08
Exactly. And that's what I'm onto now. I mean, alcohol's been a number of years to me now, but there's now foods, and it's just realizing certain foods give me brain fog and don't work for me anymore. And it's sad, but I'm having to I'm playing with that now because I want to feel energized and well, and you can feel so good. And you don't realize you know how bad you are feeling until you cut these things out or experiment with it and see how good you can feel, and that's like, wow, why wouldn't I want that?
April Snow: 19:35
Exactly. And what it sounds like an kind of a way to step into your personal power of I'm nourishing my body, I'm doing things that are aligned for me, and I'm gonna feel even better, which sounds amazing.
Tara Jackson: 19:49
Absolutely, but just to acknowledge also, you know, this has taken this has been a journey. I didn't start here at all by, you know, it would have been impossible for me like 10 years ago, 15 years ago, to cut out the things I did today because often there's layers of healing and trauma in those things that have happened and been held and released and you know, etc. throughout the years. So I just want to say that it might be like, okay, it's like easy for you to do this now, but at the beginning of my journey, it really wasn't, because it you just start with the little things as we kind of talked about in the beginning. Yeah, yeah.
April Snow: 20:19
And I appreciate that because if someone is at the I'm just thinking about myself 20, 25 years ago at the very beginning, yeah, there's no way I was doing things than doing now then. It was a very incremental shift over decades. Yeah. And I think it'll continue for even more decades because my philosophy is we're always healing, we're always growing. That's a lifelong pursuit. So I don't put the pressure on myself to do it all right now. It and also as HSPs, we want to deep dive, we want to do all the things. So just yeah, a reminder just to pace yourself.
Tara Jackson: 20:54
Yeah, okay. Yeah, and as you say that makes me think this is it, it's the slowing down, it's the long game, I suppose. You know, this quick fix, instant gratification life, and I've wanted it, sure. I still can find myself wanting it, but it's that the slow savoring, the little things that are so powerful for us as HSPs, especially but for the world and power in the world, in my opinion. But just yeah, many things that exactly.
April Snow: 21:20
Yeah, I mean, we keep coming back to it, but there's so much value in slowing down, getting quiet with yourself.
Tara Jackson: 21:28
Yeah, yeah, the whole world needs that.
April Snow: 21:30
Oh, we need it so bad. We really do, and it's a good reminder that you know what HSPs need, everybody could benefit from.
Tara Jackson: 21:38
We just tend to feel it more when we're so cute, we cut you feel it, we get what we need in my exactly.
April Snow: 21:44
It's true, like we're the like lightning rods, or however you want to say it.
Tara Jackson: 21:48
We can tell you because we feel it so much more on so many levels, good and bad, you know.
April Snow: 21:53
Exactly. And another reason to kind of own your power or your position as an HSP, I think we often put ourselves to the side of like, oh, we're the weaker group in society, and it's not true. We have everybody has an equal place, but we do have a very specific role of bringing things to light.
Tara Jackson: 22:12
And yeah, and within that, there's something even came up in conversation with someone earlier today who's an HSP empath colleague, and it's just really advocating for ourselves. And you're doing this through your platform, which is so incredible. But even as an individual, like because we're so used to being, oh, I'm so sensitive, or I'm so sorry, I'm being fussy, or I'm being too much, or you know, and I still hear myself saying these things or thinking them if I haven't said them, but we have to advocate. No, I am sensitive. I need this, this, and this, or I'm just not gonna have that because too much. And we don't advocate for ourselves enough. So this is a whole goes a bit fast. I know, but it's definitely there.
April Snow: 22:50
I do see this in the realm of power, at least in the way that I'm thinking of it. And you may have a different perception of it given that you're the book, but it is about I think using our voice and believing that we have value and stepping into that role that we have, as I just mentioned. I think there is a lot of power in that and saying, you know, I'm okay just as I am, and I'm gonna do what I need to do to take care of myself so I can be the best version of who I am instead of feeling like I need to kind of hide away and just get through life and be off to the side.
Tara Jackson: 23:21
No, I'm with you. That's what the book is about. It's being more you, letting yourself be you completely. Yeah. And taking up that space or whatever that means to you or looks like life, yeah.
April Snow: 23:31
Which is very exciting to me because you know, being kind of really immersed in the HSP community and watching how conversations go in different circles online or in person. And a lot of HSPs do. I I feel I feel sad because a lot of HSPs do kind of set their power aside or don't recognize it or don't have access to it, or feel like they have to live like everyone else does, and then they get stripped of that, and there's too much noise to see. Oh, here's what I really need, here's who I really am, here's what I can offer myself and everyone else. So yeah, I always appreciate having these conversations just to remind folks that sensitivity isn't what we've potentially made it out to be. It's actually there's a lot of value there. That is your power. It is sensitivity is your power.
Tara Jackson: 24:17
Thank you.
April Snow: 24:17
Yes, exactly.
Tara Jackson: 24:18
100% your power, I feel.
April Snow: 24:20
Right, yeah.
Tara Jackson: 24:21
And it can be powerful. Oh, yeah. Right? Oh, yes, and I think when we own who we are and what it means to be sensitive. Oh my goodness.
April Snow: 24:31
Yes.
Tara Jackson: 24:31
Oh, that feels exciting. Doesn't it feel exciting? Yeah, yeah.
April Snow: 24:36
And so I wonder if we could start then talking about just how sensitivity or softness or things that are often I think perceived as more weak can actually be a form of strength and a form of personal power. Yeah.
Tara Jackson: 24:50
Why do you think that is? I mean, it takes courage to be set soft, it takes so much courage in this world to allow yourself to soften, to be vulnerable, to open your heart. I mean, I see it really in this part of your body. And when you allow yourself to be soft, you create connection, you really hear someone, see someone, or you're more open to that. You're and you're more open to your gifts and your intuition and your you know creativity and who you truly are. And that's so courageous to be that in the world. Sorry, yeah, I forgot what your question was because I know it's okay, we're just kind of going through it.
April Snow: 25:25
But you're so right that you know, being more soft is vulnerable, but but it does take a lot of, I think I was always reminding my clients of this that to feel this deeply while living your life, doing everything that everyone else is doing, it takes a lot of resilience, it takes a lot of power, it takes a lot of strength. Especially it's not just feeling, but it's sensing, it's intuiting. Because if just trying to put this into words, this feeling. Because if you're walking through the world as an HSP, you have all these uh 10 out and picking up on all these little sensations and clues and pieces of information, and which then is sparking emotion in you, and you're picking up on other people's emotions, it's a very busy inner world that's happening, yeah. And to feel and be with all of that at such a deep level, it does take a lot of strength to do that. You know, we're really feeling it, opening ourselves up to everything that's happening in the world. And let's be honest, right now it's a lot. And I I guess it surprises me how much we think that we aren't powerful to do all that.
Tara Jackson: 26:34
I think I mean, I'll speak for myself, but and a lot of people I've worked with as well, but we shut it down a lot of that, you know, when the world is overwhelming and too much. I mean, whilst I was sort of on, I guess, my healing journey for lack of a better way of describing it, I wish, you know, I had shut down a lot of my senses massively. So I didn't have to feel so much, so I didn't have to receive so much and deal with so much. And but it's through, you know, becoming back into, and I think health is a huge part of it, feeling good in yourself and nourishing and you know, looking after yourself on a physical level that yeah, you're able to open up so much more to yeah, the senses that you talked about, the antenna, and to receive all that. And then you start, you do remember, you know, what a gift and how powerful it really is. And then it's like, okay, now we can return on, we can go like this, you know, it's creative, it's magical, it's intuitive, it's so powerful on so many levels that we know, but the world hasn't even really experienced yet. I don't think we you know, we could go so much further with our sensitive powers, I think, in the world. Yeah.
April Snow: 27:36
Oh, absolutely we could.
Tara Jackson: 27:40
I think it's time. It's time. That's why we're here. That's why we're here. I believe we are here because we feel so much, we know what the world needs to bring it into balance to balance this crazy world that we live in right now, which we don't know to go into. But oh my goodness, the sensitivity just to slow down, to live more cyclically, to allow rest and honor, you know, the different qualities of humans, not just forcing, pushing the more masculine qualities, etc., that have been, you know, put in front of human ones, for example, and just so many things that sensitivity can show you, can bring you, can open you up to. And yeah, that's just so much.
April Snow: 28:18
Yes, I love it. I can feel it. Like that's why we're here, right? That's why we exist as sensitive people, is we do have all these gifts that want and need to come to the surface. And if we allow ourselves that space to reconnect inward, to be in our bodies, and I know, like you said, we tend to want to cut off because it is a lot to feel it. However, I found that it becomes a lot more tolerable, easy, exciting when I am doing my somatic practices, when I am getting into nature, when I am nourishing my body, kind of taking out all the gunk and the noise and focusing on nourishing and whatever way that is. And it's a lot easier to be present within. Now, again, it's a journey.
Tara Jackson: 29:05
It's a journey, definitely.
April Snow: 29:07
But that does really shift the tides.
Tara Jackson: 29:12
It really, really does. Yeah. Yeah. You know, what the space you are for being a part of a community and recognizing you're not alone is so important, especially in the beginning. I mean, all of the time, but especially in the early days when you're starting to realize why you're different for a lot of people as well, and why things take longer or affect you more, or you know, etc. I mean, even now, like why am I so sensitive to certain foods and my partner isn't? It's frustrating sometimes, but it's that's my gift too, you know. And yeah, yeah. Actually, there's a little story of a friend of mine who's also very sensitive. Like, I mean, I'm the same, but if someone in the house uses, you know, chemicals and the cleaning products, you she's it's awful. I mean, I can't breathe, it will block me up for days. And it's like, we can tell that this is not good for you, but other people don't mind. And it's you see, this is you know why we are needed because it's not good for you. We know it's not. And we can tell that. W just we are. Whereas other people wouldn't notice till it's too late or you know, calming them in some way. There you go. That's a tiny little random example, but I think that we are heated. And yeah, that's why we're here. Our sensitivities can tell.
April Snow: 30:17
I get excited when you bring up that example because that is one of my biggest. I don't know if pet peeve is the right word, but something that really bothers me in life is everyone is using all these chemicals these days, like fragrances and things that what will not leave your clothes no matter how hard you try. And I'm like, that there's that's a problem. That cannot be good for you.
Tara Jackson: 30:41
Yeah. It's not. I mean, some of these like they disrupt your hormones, your endocrine system, and some of the chemicals in them, right? That's as much as I know. I but I do know that there's other things that they do. But one of my biggest pet peeves, I mean, it's debilitating. So I like I literally won't go out to certain places if I know that there's going to be lots of people wearing perfumes and things because it's way too much, and it will, it's nauseating. I get headaches and multiple things, and it skees on you, and I can taste it. Same. Oh my gosh, it's awful.
April Snow: 31:15
Same. I have the I think we're having the same reaction because I'll get headaches and I get congestion or allergies. And even like walking. So my wife and I will do an evening walk, and sometimes you walk by a house that you can smell the laundry from the sidewalk.
Tara Jackson: 31:29
Oh my gosh.
April Snow: 31:29
Yeah. And then you're right, you can taste it.
Tara Jackson: 31:32
You can taste it. For me, it's like go to a forest to get fresh air to walk to like to you know nourish myself. And you get people with walking with nasty cologne. And I have to change directions and find another room because I can taste you for the next two meters or something. It's just it's true.
April Snow: 31:49
It's true. And I think a lot of well, there I think probably there's two layers. One, other people's senses aren't as fine-tuned as ours. And then a two, you kind of get nose blindness where you don't smell it anymore.
Tara Jackson: 32:02
Yeah, 100%.
April Snow: 32:03
So then for an HSP who's a little more sensory sensitive, it's completely over overwhelming. And yeah, we do have those physical reactions, which is an indicator like something is not okay here.
Tara Jackson: 32:16
Exactly.
April Snow: 32:17
And we are the canaries in the coal mine, right? We're the ones that sense that something is a little bit off before everyone else can. Yeah, exactly. And that's just, you know, this is just one example of so many. So many.
Tara Jackson: 32:34
Exactly.
April Snow: 32:34
And there's a reason why, just to get a little technical, there's a reason why, you know, evolutionary speaking, that sensitivity has persisted throughout thousands of years. Right?
Tara Jackson: 32:49
In our human, not just humans, but in animals and insects and exactly children, for goodness sake, are like exactly numb later on.
April Snow: 32:59
Exactly.
Tara Jackson: 33:01
You know, them are so sensitive.
April Snow: 33:03
For sure. And there's a reason for that. Yeah, you know, usually if a family has multiple children, you get different temperaments, and that sensitive one is important. So it was the non-sensitive, maybe more extroverted one too. You need someone that's gonna just jump right in. You need someone who's gonna hang back and notice the little details, like I think something's off here. Maybe we all would be better if we didn't eat that food or use that chemical or whatever it is.
Tara Jackson: 33:26
Yeah, there's also to bring balance, right? We need all of it, but it's got so out of balance with one way and the more extroverted, pushy, you know, forward ones, and we need that sensitive, intuitive, creative, softer, gentler approach to come back in to support everyone. Because we care about, I think personally, I believe we care about the whole more as well. We see that more. We you know, we feel the things more than than many.
April Snow: 33:53
We really do, exactly. So yeah, hopefully listeners will kind of I hope they'll be inspired, and this can remind you that there is power in softness and sensitivity and quiet, there's a deeper meaning for it.
Tara Jackson: 34:07
And there's more meaning. I know there are there's so many gold. Yeah.
April Snow: 34:12
Yeah, we're only scratching the surface here. Exactly, exactly. Yeah, yes. I'm wondering as we start to wrap up, if there is maybe some final thoughts for folks who are listening who are wanting to maybe reconnect with themselves, reconnect with their personal power. Are there any final thoughts that you want to leave folks with?
Tara Jackson: 34:34
I just I think it's that just a reminder that yeah, your sensitivity is your strength, your power. Because it is so easy to dismiss it and forget that. So and just push it aside or think you need to change or be different or something else to live in the world we live in. But if you remember it's your power for a reason, even if you don't know why in that moment, you know, when it life gets tough sometimes and you you feel so sensitive, just remember it's your power. And I think that's it. Just that remembering and knowing can help move you forward and just remember you are needed because you're you, like you have gifts because of your sensitivity. So that's okay, because it is your power.
April Snow: 35:14
I love that. Thank you, Tara. And what a beautiful reminder that you are needed because of who you are, right? Your unique version of sensitivity is just right. Yeah, absolutely. So hopefully we can take care of ourselves to be able to nurture that sensitivity and reconnect with the strengths of it.
Tara Jackson: 35:37
Yes, and oh my goodness, oh that gift and just that journey and exploration is so much fun when you let yourself go into that and get to know yourself. Because you know, said we like to deep dive and you get to deep dive even to yourself. And I just find it so so incredible. It's quite quite fun.
April Snow: 35:53
Oh, it is incredible, it really is. There's so much inside to it.
Tara Jackson: 35:58
So much magic, so much, so many different levels and layers.
April Snow: 36:01
Yeah, yes, exactly. Well, thank you so much for this really rich conversation, Tara. I really appreciate all that you're doing and the resources that you create. And I know you have a new book coming out. Also, we make sure to share all of those things in the show notes. But you have a book coming out on November 27th, Embodied Power. Can you tell listeners a little bit more about it?
Tara Jackson: 36:21
Yeah, and thank you so much as well for this conversation. Yeah, I love it. I mean, it's ultimately what we've talked about, to be honest. It is, you know, for the visionary leader who never really fit in, so sensitive people ultimately. But and I see a leader because I think we're all leading in some way, whether it's you're leading yourself or you're leading a group of people in a business, or whether you're a teacher or writing a book. I think we all are here to lead in our own ways. And it's ultimately about yeah, stepping into your power, who you are in the world, letting yourself be more you. And I've kind of got sort of five elemental gateways within it. Power is the main one. Then we've got love, which is a deeper dive into the body and really, you know, exploring what it means to be in a body as well. Magic, which is you have magical powers and gifts. Let's use them. We can do more, you know, magic is power. It doesn't have to just be the traditional things we had been taught to believe. And so we need to use our magic. And it's open, it's you know, it's broad. You can see what there's things that will resonate, things that might not. And then there's money, because we do need money in our and but it's invites you to look at money in a more cyclical way, and you know, sort of giving and receiving as well as more of a flow with money as opposed to just hoarding, you know, those sorts of things. Sure. It's changing our relationship with money, and then leadership. So the last bit, and that is ultimately about leading yourself, like being a leader for you, and then how that ripples out into the world.
April Snow: 37:48
So oh, I love it. It seems like you're covering a wide range there in how power shows up and how to pull it into your life.
Tara Jackson: 37:59
Yeah, and it's like a I guess a toolbox toolbox of different things. You can use it like an offer card, you could open a mancy tool, you could open up it around a page, or just look at the contents, pick a page you're interested in, work with that, and maybe that's it. Or if you know, let it open up around a page, whatever. Yeah. Lots to work with and just let support you. And it includes personal story, tips, tools, as well as just kind of poetry type pieces with activating kind of energies, which I feel can sit with you long afterwards. And it's the kind of book, honestly, that the frequency and the energy just kind of stays with you. I've noticed myself living it, even writing it, as I'm sure you'll know with books, they have an energy. Yeah. So honestly, there's something about the power of it that can just activate what you need for you. And the few people that have read it so far have definitely sort of said that as well. So maybe it will do that for you too.
April Snow: 38:48
I love that. It can be a kind of a companion for your embodiment work for you know as a tool of reflection and reconnecting with yourself. And you can kind of tap into whatever you're called to within the book. Exactly. Yeah, exactly. Thank you. Torah, thank you so much. I'll encourage folks to pick up your book the end of November. They can pre-order it now.
Tara Jackson: 39:10
Yes, there's some bonuses if you catch this before. There's some pre-order bonuses. Oh, but a companion workbook, a PDF companion workbook, but also a live workshop on the launch date itself, which is a Meet Your Leadership Dragon workshop. Dragons kind of form the different elemental gateways because dragons are part of my magic. And create a physical touch point of it within the session. So it's all be recorded. So if you can't join live, that's fine. I think your time zone it might be quite early as well. Uh-huh. But it will be, yeah, like meet your leadership dragon through a visualization and then the space to actually create it or create something from that to actually yeah, spend some time and space putting it down in whatever way appeals to you. It's amazing. But they'll be available after anyway. But yeah, if you do get they are they're there as a gift.
April Snow: 39:59
Yeah. Oh, I love this. It's a whole kind of toolbox of resources that are coming through with this book. Yeah, definitely so much. Yeah, I'll make sure I share all of those details in the show notes for folks so they can tap in and just use those as they need to. Love it. Thank you. Thank you so much, April. Thank you, Tara.
Tara Jackson: 40:19
Everything you do.
April Snow: 40:20
Of course, and thank you. This was a lovely conversation today. Thanks so much for joining me and Tara for today's conversation. I hope you feel inspired to reserve a little more time for yourself and ask the question, what's really going on for me? If you're ready to reclaim your creativity, intuition, and sensitive strengths, pick up Tara's new book, Embodied Power, out November 27th. You can pre-order it now on bookshop.org or anywhere you buy your books online to get the pre-sale bonuses. Links are in the show notes. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Sensitive Stories podcast so you don't miss our upcoming conversations. Reviews and ratings are also helpful and appreciated. For behind the scenes content and more HSP resources, you can sign up for my email list or follow Sensitive Strengths on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Check out the show notes or sensitivestories.com for all the resources from today's episode. Thanks for listening.
