If you're a sensitive individual, you are all too familiar with the verbal abuse that comes along with it. You grow up hearing "you're too sensitive" from friends, family and peers, and eventually develop the perspective that sensitivity is a negative quality to have.

This couldn't be further from the truth.

Sensitive people have a unique and powerful gift. They are able to tune in to people in a way that many other people can't.

In the moments where they're over-analyzing every word a person says, they are truly feeling the energy that comes with it. Like a sponge, they take it all in as an attempt to deeply understand the people that they interact with. They are beautifully compassionate individuals that have a tendency to intensely care about everything and everyone — often to their own detriment.

Hypersensitivity is something that takes time and practice to control. As a child, it's hard to understand why things so easily offend you, and you start to believe that there's something wrong with you. This mentality causes many sensitive people to suppress their feelings, because they believe that they are not allowed to feel those things.

Please, if you know anyone that is hypersensitive, encourage them to understand their emotions. Don't tell them that they need to change.

We need to stop telling people that being sensitive is a bad thing. We need sensitive people in this world. We need sensitive leaders, politicians, parents, teachers, etc. If you're a sensitive person, embrace this side of yourself.

We need people like you.