A Reflection from the Sacred Valley: Sensitivity, Labels, and the Wisdom of the Body

Hello lovely,

How are you feeling today?

I’m writing to you from the Sacred Valley of Peru, with mountains surrounding me and the sound of the river and nature all around. There is something deeply regulating about being here. The vastness of the mountains, the rhythm of the river, and the simplicity of life close to nature seem to hold the nervous system in a way that is difficult to describe.

Something I’ve been reflecting on since arriving here is how much my nervous system relaxes when I am both in nature and surrounded by a spiritual community. There is a sense of being held, not only by the land but also by the shared intention of the people around me.

A practice that has always brought me deep peace is Kirtan, the chanting of sacred mantras. It is a heart centred meditation that gently invites us out of the ego, or the busy thinking mind, and into the deeper spiritual heart. Some of you may even have joined me in person for our beautiful kirtans over the years.

Since being here, it has also made me reflect on something else.

How lonely it can sometimes feel to be a sensitive soul in the world.

Many of the people I work with identify as highly sensitive. Some have diagnoses such as ADHD or autism. Others resonate with the term neurodivergent. These labels can be incredibly helpful. They can bring understanding, validation, and a language for experiences that may have felt confusing or isolating before.

At the same time, I also believe there is something important about not making any label our entire identity.

These days, I often use the term highly sensitive rather than neurodivergent, because it feels a little more spacious to me. Less clinical perhaps, and more connected to the natural diversity of human experience.

For me, this reflects something I believe deeply: life is rarely black and white.

Two things can be true at the same time.

A diagnosis can be helpful and validating, and we can also remember that we are more than any label we are given. More than ADHD. More than autism. More than highly sensitive. More than any story the mind might create about who we are.

We are complex, evolving human beings with a depth that cannot be fully captured by a word or a category.

Being sensitive can sometimes feel overwhelming in a world that moves quickly and values productivity over presence. But sensitivity is also the doorway to empathy, creativity, intuition, and deep connection.

Perhaps that is why it is so important that we learn to support each other.

As sisters, friends, and soul companions on this strange and beautiful journey.

Because life is not always rosy or full of rainbows. And it was never meant to be. Often it is our struggles that invite us to grow and expand our consciousness. Without difficulty we might never discover who we truly are.

And who we truly are is far greater than the stories our mind creates.

There is a beautiful book called The Body Keeps the Score, but you don’t even need to read it to understand the central truth it points to.

The mind and body are not separate.

Every thought we think creates a response in the body.

So whatever troubles you may be facing right now, my invitation to you is this.

Pause for a moment and notice how your body responds when you think about the situation that is worrying you. Notice your chest. Notice your jaw. Notice the feeling in your head or shoulders.

Just observe.

Now gently shift your mind and think about the last time you laughed, or a beautiful memory that warms your heart. And again, simply notice how your body responds.

Often the body tells us something the mind has forgotten.

Today my invitation is very simple. Without judging yourself or your thoughts, just notice. Notice when your mind begins feeding difficult or negative stories, and observe how this shows up in your body.

Then gently place a hand over your heart and say to yourself,

“It’s okay. This is a hard moment. Everyone experiences moments like this. I am safe, and in this moment all is well.”

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply meet ourselves with a little kindness.

I trust that whoever needed to read this today will receive something from it.

Feel hugged and feel loved,

Francesca x