Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive Person

Rating:
Summary: It works!
Review: I liked this book because the author provides a useful framework for understanding our relationship to work. All jobs land somewhere on a continuum from drudgery to calling, with craft at the middle being a blend of the two. Moving upscale on the continuum requires personal growth, and that takes courage, intention, and [yes] hard work. But I also found tidbits that I could put to immediate use, like how our mistakes often sabotage us and land us in drudgery. In that regard, the author recounts her own experiences in pizza delivery after finishing work on her Ph.D., and how the work was neither easy nor restful. I waited a long time for this book. I only wish it was available years ago.

Rating:
Summary: Reassuring, but not a definitive how-to guide
Review: This book is touted as being a guide for the highly sensitive person looking for meaningful work. While it offers excellent practical advice for dealing with difficult people (wish I'd had this book two jobs ago), the majority of the book simply describes what the ideal workplace for an HSP would be like. The author's conclusion is that HSPs are best suited for self-employment in a creative field. OK, great. Where Ms. Jaeger falls short is in providing practical advice for how to find or create that type of work situation. Obviously she conducted multiple interviews to get the personal stories that are sprinkled through the chapters. Most interview subjects are creative professionals, yet the most they say is something like, "I really love my job. Now I feel like I'm doing the work I was born for!" NO ONE talks about what they did to establish themselves (classes? training? trust fund? luck?), or how they stay in business (for instance, as an introvert, how do you effectively market your services/products to new clients?). Being an HSP who's considering self-employment, I found it frustrating to read a so-called "career guide" that in essence told me things I already know. Yes, I know I'd work best in an enviroment where I pick my own hours, have soothing lighting, and friendly coworkers. And sure, I want to find my Calling. But simply telling me to "keep working on yourself, and eventually you'll find your true Calling" really doesn't do much for me. Would have enjoyed this book more if the author had included a chapter in which her interview subjects shared personal stories of the steps (esoteric as well as practical) that they took to find their Callings.

Rating:
Summary: Deeply thoughtful + practical approach to sensitive work
Review: This is an excellent book, and the only one of its kind that I have seen. As a very sensitive person, I have struggled all my life to find work that I can enjoy, yet which does not overwhelm me. The realities of office politics, long hours, and other demands have drained my energy and left me feeling low or depressed about work in general.

In this book, Dr. Jaeger addresses all of this. What makes for a good job fit for YOU? How does one go about determining that? What does it mean to have a drudgery job, yet to feel that in some way, one has a "Calling"? Or, is your job one that is "okay", yet some aspect is not all you'd like it to be; and what might you do about that? What constitutes "balance" for a sensitive person? Is a regular job a waste, or should I try self-employment? How do I handle noise, bullying, and excessive demands on the job? And how do I take care of my sensitive self, even if I am not emotionally sensitive; so that I have energy and zest for work AND life?

I highly recommend this book. It has helped me to understand my needs & my situation a lot. It's one of the best out there for those of us who know we have gifts, but have had a hard time figuring out exactly how to share them with the world, in a way that works for us. I'm enriched for having read this book.