The Pain of Being Misunderstood and the Joy of Belonging with Julie Bjelland, LMFT and Willow McIntosh

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Episode Highlights:

• Introduction Julie welcomes listeners, joined by Willow McIntosh, who are recording live from the Sensitive Empowerment Community.

• Feeling Misunderstood: Julie and Willow dive into the emotional journey of being misunderstood, especially as sensitive and neurodivergent individuals. They reflect on how past experiences of being seen differently can shape one's self-image and create challenges in personal and professional relationships.

• From Misunderstanding to Belonging: Julie shares her own contrasting experiences this week—feeling deeply misunderstood in one instance and profoundly connected in another. This theme of moving from feeling unseen to finding deep belonging resonates throughout the episode.

• The Power of Belonging: Both hosts emphasize the transformative experience of finding spaces where you are understood and valued. Julie discusses the sense of belonging she felt during a recent meeting of the Autistic Women’s Group, describing it as healing and profoundly bonding.

• Self-Acceptance and Boundaries: As part of the journey from misunderstanding to belonging, Julie and Willow discuss how establishing boundaries is essential to protect your sense of self, particularly with people who may not understand or accept you. They also talk about the importance of being true to yourself and surrounding yourself with those who see and accept you as you are.

• Grief and Emotional Processing: Julie opens up about her ongoing process of grief after her mother’s passing, relating how creating space to feel and honor difficult emotions is a critical aspect of self-care.

• Community and Connection: Both hosts underscore the value of community in fostering a sense of belonging. They talk about the power of connecting with like-minded individuals who share similar experiences, particularly within the Sensitive Empowerment Community.

• Self-Care Tips: Practical advice on how small acts of self-care, like preparing a comforting meal or simply taking a break, can help shift your emotional state, especially during challenging times.

• Autism and Health Awareness: Julie encourages listeners who are struggling with chronic health issues to take her free autism quiz, as discovering neurodivergence can lead to improved health and self-understanding.

Closing Thoughts: Julie and Willow encourage listeners to honor their authentic selves, seek spaces where they feel truly seen and accepted, and prioritize self-compassion. They invite everyone to continue the conversation within the Sensitive Empowerment Community.

Julie’s Resources & Links

• Explore all of Julie’s resources at https://www.SensitiveConnection.com

• Join the Sensitive Empowerment Community for live events, meet and greets, and niche support groups.: https://www.juliebjelland.com/sensitive-empowerment-community

• One-on-one with Julie: Therapy, Coaching, Consultations for the sensitive and neurodivergent and Autism Assessments: https://www.juliebjelland.com/consultations-with-julie

• Free Autism Quiz, Research, and Resources for the Sensitive: https://www.juliebjelland.com/autistichsp

• Explore Julie’s Courses for the Sensitive and Neurodivergent: https://www.juliebjelland.com/hsp-online-courses

• Explore Julie’s Resources for the Sensitive and Neurodivergent at https://www.juliebjelland.com/

Willow’s Resources & Links

• Book a free discovery call with Willow: https://training.inluminance.com/20-minute-session

• Interested in training to become an HSP Specialist? Visit: https://inluminance.com/the-coaching-program/

• Find out more at https://inluminance.com

Bios

Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. She specializes in supporting high sensitivity, neurodivergence, and adult-discovered autism. Julie has developed tools to help balance the sensitive nervous system, reduce challenges, and help individuals reach their fullest potential. Through her global support hub, she offers online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community, a top-ranked podcast, articles, webinars, and more. As a proud neurodivergent and queer therapist, Julie’s mission is to create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. Learn more at https://www.juliebjelland.com/

Willow McIntosh is the founder of Inluminance and has been working in purpose alignment and lightworker facilitation for 17 years. He specialises in initiating people with High Sensory Intelligence to experience their reality as a gift that can be implemented into valuable products and services. https://inluminance.com/

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