Episode Highlight: On this episode of the "Embracing Only" podcast, we delve into how being “too emotional” can be your superpower with Rachel Radway, a certified leadership and executive coach, Mastermind facilitator, and author. Highly perceptive individuals often feel like they are crazy, broken, or the only person who feels this way. This is not true, there are so many of us out here, including many incredibly successful women. 

Rachel has more than 25 years of leadership experience across tech startups, not-for-profits, and Fortune 500s. She's particularly passionate about helping women leaders who are wired a little differently create the conditions they need to thrive.

Key Discussion Points:

02:33 Exploring High Sensitivity Perception: 30% of people are affected by high sensitivity perception. This comes with its own challenges and superpowers. 

08:32 Strategies for Managing Sensory Overload in Our Increasingly Connected Workspaces: While you may not be able to control your environment completely, there are ways you can create conditions for success.

13:55 The Stigma of Being Labeled as Highly Sensitive: Women face so many challenges in the workplace, the last thing they need is another label attached to them that is often associated with weakness.

17:46 Navigating Extreme Self-Expectations: Brain research has shown that the brains of highly sensitive people optimize for successful group outcomes rather than individual outcomes.

23:04 Understanding How Your Brain Works: This work can be intimidating because there are so many deep-seated social expectations of us. The first step is to get support.

29:49 The Power of the Pause: One of the biggest gifts we can give ourselves is to pause before we take action and to start listening to ourselves.

37:34 The Pressure to Be Likable: Likability and authenticity sometimes feel in dissonance with one another. There are ways you can navigate these feelings.

In Summary: If you think you are highly perceptive and you are struggling, Rachel Radway urges you to give yourself grace, reach out for support, listen to your body, and take care of yourself.

Resources from this episode:

Perceptive by Rachel Radway (coming summer 2025)

Follow Rachel on Linkedin or check out her website.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

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Produced by Ideablossoms