The Importance of Retreat for the Highly Sensitive Person by Cecilia G

Guest Article

What does it mean to go on a retreat and why is it recommended for HSPs?

Retreating is an act of moving back or withdrawing. Retreat is the act of giving up and withdrawing or a time away in a quiet and secluded place where you can fully let go of daily responsibilities and relax. 

Kirsten MacLeod, author of the book, In Praise of Retreat, defines it as: “A retreat means removing yourself from society to a quiet place where moments are strung like pearls, and after long days apart in inspiring surroundings, you return home refreshed and with a new sense of what you want to do with your life.”

Many spiritual traditions and cultures have a practice of leaving behind the daily routine and going on retreat. For example, in Hinduism, disciples may stay at an ashram, which is a place removed from urban life, where spiritual and yogic disciplines are pursued. 

Buddhism also advocates spending time in retreat as a period of reflection in which one may immerse oneself in study and practice at a temple, retreat centre, or even a hermitage or cave. During this time, the person on retreat can focus fully on their spiritual practice free from distractions.

What does this have to do with being a Highly Sensitive Person? 

Because our nervous systems are taking in and processing so much information, we are often in a state of overwhelm. To reduce our level of stimulation, we may need to retreat to a quiet, dark bedroom and be alone in order to rest and recover to lower our levels of arousal and stimulation and to process.

HSPs are highly attuned to the subtle nuances of our surrounding environments, as well as the emotions of others and our own emotions. Our high depth of processing means we are taking in large amounts of information and processing it deeply. We may become easily overwhelmed by information and sensory stimulation of daily living because we are constantly taking in so much information.

Many of us live in busy, urban centres and also have very full lives with packed schedules. We may be working full time, stressful jobs, or have businesses with clients whose demands we need to meet. We may be studying and have multiple deadlines to meet. We may be parents or caregivers to children and/or elderly family members and have people who depend upon us.

For HSPs, oftentimes it is not enough to take a two week vacation to feel truly refreshed and rested. We may find that after all the planning and hectic travel of a vacation, we need a vacation from our vacation afterwards! 

Daily meditation, a mindfulness practice, time in nature, and silence are very important and have all been found to be beneficial for HSPs to help us regulate our sensitive nervous systems and function more effectively in the world.

If we don’t take the time to nourish ourselves by having quiet, alone time in nature then this can result in burnout, chronic stress, fatigue and mental and physical health challenges. Going on a retreat is a way to provide self-care and nourish and regulate our sensitive nervous systems so that we can avoid such physical and mental symptoms. Similar to the act of retreating to a quiet room, a retreat in a quiet place in nature for several days can offer us that chance to reset and truly rest and restore.

A retreat does not necessarily have to be spiritual, although it can be. For me, it is about taking time out from my daily routine and away from the busy-ness of modern life. It is a chance for self-reflection, reconnection with your inner self, connection between mind-body-soul and gathering and connecting with like minded people. During a retreat, you’ll be secluded in a distant place, usually surrounded by nature, away from noise and distraction. Everything’s planned out for you so that you only focus on your wellbeing. Retreats may be structured or unstructured depending on your needs, but I find that having that structure in place allows me to not have to think about things such as planning meals or what I will do each day etc.

I had the privilege of attending two HSP Gatherings which were a very unique retreat situation. Being in a communal setting in nature with other HSPs in this way was highly therapeutic, refreshing and invigorating. It was the first time I had spent that amount of time in community with other people that I truly felt were so similar to me in so many ways and truly feeling a sense of belonging and that I was with my tribe. Having those types of authentic connections with other sensitives and the chance to feel validated and normalized is a life changing experience.

It’s not always possible to go on retreat with other HSPs but there are a host of meditation, yoga or nature retreats available to choose from. Or you can organize your own free-range retreat by renting a cabin in nature for a week. 

We may not realize that living in busy built up urban environments with a high level of noise and absorbing the energy of those around us in crowded settings, as well as pollution, electromagnetic frequencies etc. can also affect us as HSPs. 

I just returned from a one-week yoga retreat on the shores of a pristine glacier-fed lake in the remote countryside. It was such a beautiful location that I literally cried the first morning as I took in my surroundings. It was a moment of appreciation and release. Not to mention the profound silence. The only sounds at times were the wind in the trees, the waves lapping on the shore and the birds singing. I realized that it had been so long since I had been in true silence like that and I relished every moment in this beautiful environment. I also had the opportunity to participate in karma yoga, which is the discipline of selfless action, or contribution to the spiritual community. In this particular yoga centre it involved daily work including cleaning, helping in the kitchen, making preserves like jams and pickles (which I loved), or helping harvest fruits and veggies from the organic garden. Believe it or not, I enjoyed this chance to work side by side with others with the same aim and to contribute towards the community. It was such a departure from my usual sedentary desk job in front of a computer for eight hours a day and a refreshing change..

I try to spend time in retreat at least once a year and for at least a week to two weeks if possible. I know this may not be possible for everyone, but if you can, it’s an opportunity to spend time focusing on yourself and can be particularly helpful if going through challenges or transitions. You can come back to your daily life and responsibilities with a renewed sense of purpose and understanding and appreciation of yourself and your place in the world, as well as appreciation for your unique gifts, from a refreshed and enlightened perspective. This renewed and refreshed mindset and the tools and practices you can gain, can help foster resilience and coping with the intense emotions and challenges and stresses of modern life.It is a gift that you can give yourself which will help you be there for those in your life as an  employee, partner, friend, etc., and an empowered HSP that can truly thrive in the world.

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Cecilia G is a Highly Sensitive Person, Empath and High Sensation Seeker who has been a part of the Sensitive Empowerment Community for three years. She is always learning and growing and finding new ways to empower herself and other HSPs and those seeking a quieter, more fulfilled path.

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I’ve added some ideas about creating an outdoor oasis, here. -Julie Bjelland

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Julie Bjelland is a psychotherapist specializing in high sensitivity, Author of The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person, host of The HSP Podcast, and founder of the Sensitive Empowerment Community. Her books, blog, online courses, and free Webinars have helped thousands of highly sensitive people (HSPs) worldwide reduce their challenges, access their gifts, and discover their significant value to thrive to their fullest potential. Her HSPs in Heart-Centered Business Group connects and supports HSP healers and practitioners. Julie loves connecting in her Sensitive Empowerment Community and warmly invites you to join this positive, safe, and welcoming space. JulieBjelland.com❤️🌈❤️ (she/her)