Ritu Kaushal's Blog, page 19

Empaths: Why We Need to be Aware of the Dark Side of Empathy.

Every “quality” or “good” thing we have comes with its dark side. That includes empathy. Empathy fatigue is a very real thing. It’s that feeling of utter exhaustion you have when you have extended empathy to someone else and not considered yourself enough and then hurt yourself in the process.

When you’ve extended thoughtfulness and empathy to someone else’s situation and then also not had it mirrored back to you for something that you hold dear, that breeds resentment and anger, not a sen...

Are INFPs and INFJs the most Extroverted Introverts?

As an INFP, I come across very differently to different people. With people who I am not comfortable with and in situations where I don’t understand or connect with the topic being discussed, I come across as a classic introvert. There are people I know who think (with good reason) that I don’t open up easily. It’s very hard for them to get to know me.

With these people, it’s as if I have a thick curtain in front that obstructs their view of me.

In fact, it took me until my 30s to underst...

The Wisdom of our Dreams: The Fantastic Way in which Dreams can Help Us.

People think that our dreams are either superstitious nonsense or just a rehashing of what’s going on in our day-to-day life. But dreams are much more than that. They are not just our repressed, disowned feelings sparking & shouting, they are also the bridge to our deeper self!

When I started getting interested in dreams (once again) some years ago, I found the work of Carl Jung. Unlike Freud who thought that dreams are only about unwanted desires we repress, Jung thought that dreams conta...

Two Fantastic Free Events for Highly Sensitive People!

Just wanted to write a quick post to let you guys know about two free upcoming online events for highly sensitive people and empaths. These have some really great people involved. I highly recommend you check them out – it’s so nourishing to connect with kindred spirits and people who are on the same path as us!

How to channel your intense feelings as a highly sensitive person or emotional empath.

The first is Finding Freedom as an Empath with bestselling author and coach Tree Franklyn an...

Interview with the multi-talented Lynne Fisher, author of On Turtle Beach.

I am so excited this week to welcome Lynne Fisher, fellow artist and fellow introvert to the blog. Lynne is the author of the novel On Turtle Beach and is a truly beautiful painter in addition to being a lovely writer.

We connected on social media and have emailed each other from our respective parts of the world — me from the San Francisco Bay Area and Lynne from her home in the beautiful Scottish Borders — and gotten to know each other a little. We connected as kindred spirits because of...

For a Limited Time: 3 Free Books for Highly Sensitive People!

This is just a quick one to let you all kindred spirits know that for a LIMITED TIME, you can get a free digital copy of The Empath’s Journey, along with two other wonderful books with Highly Sensitive characters at the forefront!

The Empath’s Journey is my memoir set in the first few years after I relocated from India to the United States and started redefining my relationship with my high sensitivity; Crown of Fire is the first book in a fantasy fiction series with a Highly Sensitive prota...

4 Fabulous Resources for Empaths Struggling with Narcissists.

As a Highly Sensitive Person, I have pieced together my own understanding of what it means to be sensitive both by trial and error as well as by finding bits and pieces from the works of other kindred spirits.

So, in this post, I want to do a tip of the hat to the many lovely people whose work has both helped and inspired me. These are wonderfully sensitive, creative, insightful Highly Sensitive Empaths who might also give you your next clue in your journey. So, here we go!

I find that so...

A Little Story about Cultural Differences.

I feel like writing this post just because. It’s very different from the kinds of posts I normally do. I thought I would share a tiny little story from my life with you all. Here we go!

It’s been 7 years since I relocated from India to my home here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Being an immigrant is an interesting thing. Every so often, I learn something new about American culture and, so, by default, about Indian culture.

Some years (year?) back, I got an email from a friend here who to...

How to Differentiate Between Perfectionism and Excellence.

As a recovering perfectionist, I feel like there is a simple difference that helps us recognize when we are being a perfectionist and when we are pursuing excellence. It’s this. Perfectionism stops us from trying while excellence makes us try one more time.

Many years ago, there was a time when I was paralyzed with fear and couldn’t start writing my book, something I had dreamt of doing for years. While I had deep creative wounds that had festered, part of the paralysis was also because I w...

A Reminder to Self: Always Make New Mistakes!

Creativity has no rules, but if there were any rules, this would be my Rule No. 1: Always Make New Mistakes. Many years ago, when I was struggling with paralyzing perfectionistic tendencies, I got a fridge magnet with this quote by Esther Dyson, meant as a reminder for myself. One of my biggest regrets till then was that I had played it too safe, that I had been too afraid of making mistakes in my life. So, my new mantra was: Make more mistakes.

Try new things. Experiment. Risk failing.

T...