A brand new documentary movie, Sensitive Men Rising (SMR), is popping its lens to the billion males who’ve largely been hidden in the shadows. Thanks to the breakthrough that we now know as “sensory processing sensitivity” (SPS) —popularly often known as “excessive sensitivity“— we all know males can play a pivotal function in altering the face and occasions of masculinity as a power for good in the world.
According to the movie’s director, Will Harper,
“Sensitive Men Rising, is a protracted overdue socially important movie that invitations all of us on an emotional, academic, and life-enlightening passage. It asks us ALL to deepen our understanding of sensory processing sensitivity in males, and the way it intersects with conventional and modern-day masculinity.”
The movie’s producer, Dr. Tracy Cooper, creator of the e-book, Empowering the Sensitive Male Soul, says,
“Highly Sensitive People (HSP) appear to disregard the cultural programming we’re all uncovered to and, as an alternative desire to work out unique options.”
Prior to the launch of the movie, June 16, 2024 (Father’s Day), Dr. Cooper interviewed me about my very own work with Highly Sensitive Men.
I additionally had the luck to fulfill, William Allen, creator of the e-book, On Being a Sensitive Man, and host of an HSP Men’s Monthly Zoom Meeting. My personal males’s group has been assembly for 44 years now. I used to be excited to be taught that Bill is gathering males collectively from throughout the world. You can be taught extra at TheSensitiveMan.com.
I’ve at all times recognized I used to be a extremely delicate boy rising up, however I by no means had a reputation for it till I learn Dr. Elaine Aron’s e-book, The Highly Sensitive Person, initially revealed in 1996, with the revised and up to date 25th Anniversary Edition, in 2020.Based on the analysis that she and her husband, Dr. Arthur Aron, had performed, Dr. Aron says,
“Over twenty p.c of individuals have this wonderful, innate trait. An identical share is present in over 100 animal species, as a result of excessive sensitivity is a survival technique.”
In a current article, “How Are Highly Sensitive Men Different?” Dr. Aron says,
“As a few of you recognize, I’ve a particular place in my coronary heart for extremely delicate males. I actually do like them. That is a part of why I need to see this film made about them. But what makes them totally different from different HSPs or different males?”
Just as her analysis findings demonstrated that “excessive sensitivity” is a biologically-based trait current not solely in human beings however different species as effectively, she acknowledges that “male sensitivity” additionally has organic roots.
“First, Highly Sensitive Males (HSMs) develop below the affect of male genes, the primary issue being testosterone. Gender spectrum apart, virtually all HSMs (and males on the whole) are clearly biologically male.”
Dr. Aron goes on to say that these points are advanced and we are going to be taught extra over time, but there are issues that we are able to say now.
“Of course, female and male habits is such that many males do some issues ladies usually do and vice versa, however hormones need to make HSMs and HSWs totally different in some methods. How do hormones work together with sensitivity? We have no idea but, however they certainly do, and we have to find out about it. Maybe that’s part two of the analysis.”
Dr. Aron additionally acknowledges the significance of understanding evolutionary realities as we search to work with this necessary, biologically, based mostly trait.
“Looking again at the evolution of male habits we all know sensitivity works sufficient to be current in 20 and even 30% of the inhabitants and in equal numbers in women and men. That means HSMs have been profitable at reproducing themselves, however how?”
She goes on to say,
“When you recognize that you’re extremely delicate, it reframes your life. Knowing that you’ve this trait will allow you to make higher selections.”
Early in my life, I at all times felt my sensitivity made me totally different from most of my male friends. Now, as a father of 5, grandfather of seventeen, and nice grandfather of two, I understand I’m a part of a choose group of males who’ve a bigger calling in life.
Based on her personal analysis and that of others, she means that we glance to the distinctive methods during which males are engaged with their kids.
“We know human males advanced into a method present in some birds and in another mammals, which is staying round after mating to assist elevate their very own younger. This methodology of seeing their DNA go on to the subsequent technology contrasts sharply with merely mating as usually as attainable with as many females as attainable and never staying round after.”
If we weren’t extremely delicate earlier than we had kids, being an concerned father will certainly carry out the finest in us.
Bottom Line: Highly Sensitive Men Have S.T.Y.L.E.
Dr. Aron offers us a easy acronym to summarize how this distinctive trait of High Sensitivity manifests itself in males.
- S for strategic, or depth of processing in motion, since males should act and control different males, particularly those that are extra aggressive.
- T for testosterone—you can not clarify an HSM by considering he’s extra “female.”
- Y for clever yielding—to stay to battle (higher) one other day and in one other manner, and yielding as in “excessive yield” investments. (Yielding will be misperceived as weak point, but it surely isn’t in any respect—as when in the martial arts, particularly judo [or Aikido], you employ the different’s assault to defeat them virtually effortlessly whereas preserving your individual psychological and bodily vitality.)
- L for management—both amongst folks or changing into leaders of their fields, in the arts, science, enterprise, athletics, or any subject they endeavor, utilizing their distinctive STYLE.
- E for Empathy, which can be utilized in shut relationships and management, but additionally in realizing, for strategic functions, what others are as much as, generally even earlier than they know.
Examples of Highly Sensitive Males
As Dr. Aron notes, there are plenty of examples we may check with amongst the greater than 1 billion Highly Sensitive Men in the world at this time. She affords one instance from a Netflix collection. Here’s what she has to say:
“It’s no secret that I like Star Trek, all iterations besides the sexist first one, but it surely’s not a lot the science fiction. I like that each one the primary characters are good folks–heroic, type, and many others. I solely watch TV whereas doing my flooring workout routines each different day, however after watching Star Trek for thus a few years that I do know what occurs in each episode, I wanted an alternate.
“Netflix kindly confirmed me different issues I would like, given my liking for Star Trek, so I attempted Designated Survivor. I used to be immediately hooked. It is a relentless thriller, which I might by no means usually watch and don’t suggest for different HSPs. So why was I watching?
“The present is about U.S. politics–this quiet man, by no means all for energy or fame, turns into President after EVERYBODY in the authorities (even the Supreme Court) is killed in an enormous bombing throughout the State of the Union handle.
“It seems this “designated survivor,” performed by the actor, Kiefer Sutherland, and lots of of these round him, impressed by him, are unfailingly good and clever, in each state of affairs, identical to the crews of Enterprise. I used to be hooked, regardless that I’m overstimulated by each episode. It was nice to see Highly Sensitive Men in positions of energy, even when solely in a T.V. drama.”
I had watched the collection and located partaking from the first episode the place the Kiefer Sutherland character stands as much as a hot-headed basic who needs to take instant motion earlier than he is aware of all the info, a terrific instance of healthy male management. After having watched Sensitive Men Rising, I had a brand new appreciation for the significance of delicate male management. We positively want a U.S. President who shows the high quality of excessive sensitivity.
Sensitive Men Rising: The Peaceful Warriors We Need in the World Today
Just a few of the real-life Highly Sensitive Men I’ve admired in my life embody:
- The Dalai Lama
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Abraham Lincoln
- Psychologists Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Psychiatrist John Bowlby.
These are all extremely delicate males who even have needed to rise up towards oppression with the power of peaceable warriors. A person who additionally matches that description is meditation grasp Chögyam Trungpa. In my e-book, The Warrior’s Journey Home: Healing Men, Healing the Planet, I quote Trungpa who says,
“Warriorship doesn’t refer to creating battle on others. Aggression is the supply of our issues, not the answer. Here the phrase ‘warrior’ is taken from the Tibetan, pawo, which accurately means ‘one who’s courageous.’ Warriorship on this context is the custom of human bravery, or the custom of fearlessness. Warriorship is just not being afraid of who you’re.”
Where Do We Go From Here?
We are at a time in human historical past the place Highly Sensitive Men are wanted now greater than ever. Mark Jamison, Head of Global Clients, VISA, Inc., one among the consultants featured in the movie Sensitive Men Rising, says, “The world is falling aside, political divisiveness is pulling us below, the setting is being destroyed. We want a special mannequin. When folks see choices that carry hope and sensitivity and a way more integrative strategy to downside fixing, I see them embracing it with their arms huge open.”
At the finish of the movie, Dr. Elaine Aron concluds,
“Most of the world’s struggling is because of a sure sort of masculinity. A distinct type can change that. Sensitive males are rising. It’s an entire new ball recreation.”
You can be taught extra about the movie at sensitivemenrising.org.
Actor and Director, Peter Coyote, who hosted the movie requested us at the finish, “What will you do to alter the paradigm?” My reply is to hitch with like-minded and sensitive-souled women and men to make change for good.
Come go to me on my web site, https://menalive.com/ and take a look at our new non-profit, www.MoonshotForMantype.com.