Have you ever opened up about how something hurt your feelings, only to get hit with “You’re way too sensitive”?
That one stings. At the end of the day, calling someone “too sensitive” is usually just a cheap deflection. Instead of owning their words or actions, the other person flips the script and makes it your problem for even reacting. It’s a classic way to dodge accountability and shame you for having feelings.
We’re constantly told to be more sensitive: to our partners, our friends, to important situations. But the second you show any sensitivity yourself, suddenly you’re supposed to toughen up and “get over it.” That’s rarely helpful advice. It’s so much easier for someone to slap the “too sensitive” label on you than to just say, “Sorry, I went too far.”
What gets me is the paradox: the same folks who love preaching about empathy and emotional intelligence are often the quickest to weaponize “sensitivity” the moment they’re called out. It’s wild.
So here’s what I think: keep choosing connection anyway. Stay kind and considerate, even when people try to shut you down with a dismissive wave. Don’t let their defensiveness harden you.
If this hit home for you, come hang out! I go live every Wednesday night at 8:00 PM Eastern, and I'd love to see you there: https://stream.winningtheweek.org