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You Think You're Too Sensitive? Here's Why It's Your Superpower | Dr. Judith Orloff on Empathy & Emotional Strength

If you've ever been told you're "too sensitive" and felt like something was wrong with you—this episode will change everything.

In this powerful conversation on the Emotional Longevity Podcast, Dr. Elisha Goldstein sits down with Dr. Judith Orloff - UCLA psychiatrist, bestselling author of The Genius of Empathy and her upcoming book The Highly Sensitive Rabbit. She has also been called the "Godmother of the Empath Movement" - to reveal why sensitivity isn't a weakness but a superpower waiting to be harnessed.

Dr. Orloff shares the life-changing shift from survival mode to strength, why empaths burn out (and how to prevent it), and the simple boundary techniques that protect your energy while keeping your heart open. From airport bathroom meditations to tree-hugging rituals, this conversation is packed with practical tools for thriving as a sensitive person in an overwhelming world.

Whether you're an empath yourself, parenting a sensitive child, or just want to understand the highly sensitive people in your life—this episode offers validation, hope, and a clear path forward.

🎧 In this episode, we explore:
✅ Why "too sensitive" is actually a gift, not a flaw 
✅ The danger of empathy without boundaries 
✅ How to recognize when you're hitting your limit 
✅ Simple techniques to protect your energy in crowds 
✅ Why nature is an empath's secret weapon 
✅ The difference between healthy disconnection and loneliness 
✅ How to raise sensitive children without crushing their spirit 
✅ What an empath-friendly world actually looks like

⏱ Chapters:

00:00 — Rethinking Sensitivity as a Superpower 
03:10 — The Exhaustion Trap: Empathy Without Boundaries 
06:43 — Recognizing Your Breaking Point 
08:21 — Practical Protection: Bathroom Meditations & More 
12:10 — Setting Boundaries Without Feeling Guilty 
15:25 — Nature vs. Nurture: Are Empaths Born or Made? 
20:16 — Gender, Shame, and the Sensitive Male 
23:03 — Why Boundaries Feel So Hard for Empaths 
26:05 — Self-Compassion: The Missing Piece 
33:41 — Release Rituals: From Beach Flowers to Tree Hugging 
42:19 — From Overwhelm to Isolation: Breaking the Cycle 
48:35 — Raising Resilient Sensitive Children 
54:16 — Building an Empath-Friendly Society 
58:38 — One Breath, Five Beats: Where to Start

📘 Dr. Judith Orloff's Books:
• The Genius of Empathy (with foreword by the Dalai Lama) 
• The Highly Sensitive Rabbit (children's book, October 2024)🌟 Learn more about Dr. Judith Orloff: Website 
Book Tour: October & November 2024 (LA area)
🌱 Explore Dr. Elisha Goldstein's Support Tools:Therapeutic Coaching Program (Free Consult) Newsletter & Free Emotional Health Guide Free Tools for Emotional ResilienceGet Early Access to Tiny Shifts (+ the Free Mini-Guide) - https://drelishagoldstein.com/tiny-shifts-early

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