Emotional intelligence is the ability to use your intuition in order to access your feelings and other people's feelings. Often, people who have high levels of emotional intelligence are "sensitive" people. Are you a Pisces? Do other people's emotions often affect your own? Do puppies make you want to cry? Do you enjoy going out of your way to make someone's day better? Do others hurt your feelings easily? Can you often pick up on the body language of others or sense the relationship dynamics around you without knowing the details of the situation? You just might be "sensitive" then.

I have been called "sensitive" for the majority of my life. There have been times it has been really frustrating. There have been times I felt like my feelings were invalidated. There have been times I just wanted to be understood. There have been times I did not feel I had control over my emotions... to the point I learned to hold it in until I could run to the bathroom and cry.

There have been times people walked all over me because I was "the nice girl." I could keep going.

Sometimes when you are "sensitive", people have a hard time finding empathy. People just roll their eyes and tell you to get over it. Well, you know what? I am telling you now - screw the haters. Nobody can make me do anything or feel a certain way without my consent.

Being emotional is a gift.

Emotional intelligence is a gift.

Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

How awesome is it that we possess a hypersensitivity to our surroundings? How awesome is it we can pick up on dynamics or behaviors most fail to notice?

Just because you are emotional, it does not mean you do not know how to handle your emotions well... or understand what feelings make you feel specific ways. Just because uncomfortable feelings make you cry or hurt also does not mean you are weak or incapable of making smart decisions.

So many people can't recognize their feelings. So many people have trouble empathizing with others. So many people take situations for granted simply because they don't understand. How lucky we are to understand people so well. How lucky we are people trust us enough to confide in us or ask for advice... because they know we will empathize.

Embrace your sensitivity. Embrace what makes you different. Do you think meaningful art or music is created without a sense of purpose or empathy? Do you think doctors would heal the sick without a sense of sensitivity to save lives? Sensitivity is vulnerable. It is brave. Being honest with our feelings and letting ourselves feel our emotions takes courage — DO NOT let anyone tell you otherwise. Just because we feel deeply it does not mean we are not capable of living a balanced stable life.

I encourage you to go forth in your personal lives and bend the standards. Own up to your sensitivity. Own up to being emotional when it happens. This does mean you have to yell at someone, but it means it is OK to cry. It is OK to want to help someone who looks like they are struggling. It is OK to enjoy watching "The Notebook." The only one holding us back from true self is... ourselves.

Sensitive people are pretty cool.