Being an HSP in love or in partnership - whether it be friendships, business partnerships, marriage, etc. - is a different ballgame for you than others. You may love what your sensitivity does for you and others, but you don't understand how to steward it (yet) within your relationships.
Feelings of inadequacy shows up in your relationships when you're trying to stand in your authority and refuse to apologize for your sensitivity - which is great thing for you to do!
But here's the problem:
You don't know how to stand in the authority your sensitivity lends you.
So you feel frustrated for being misunderstood. You feel hurt from others not offering you the effort you offer them.
Or…
You make yourself small.
You question yourself twice as much as the people you love.
You slip into self-doubt instead of self-advocacy.
You become more careful and cautious instead of loving and open.
You think, “I must be the problem,” more often than “The problem isn’t being addressed properly.”
And when your emotions become too much?
You’re upset with yourself for shedding tears as you speak.
You’re hurt that other people don’t care about the issues you do.
You’re discouraged that no matter how much you explain yourself, things don’t change.
What we fail to remember time and time again:
You don’t change people. You “change” as a response to people, and people “change” in response to you. It’s relational.
The Good News: Your sensitivity allows you to respond to so much more than others, and it’s a strength you might not be using to the fullest!