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Own Your Superpower

Article
May 2025

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Own Your Superpower
While watching an episode of The Resident, one scene really stood out to me. Detective Cordelia Cupp a smart, strong, and quirky character was talking to her nephew. It was her final sentence (found in the video above) that struck me, “This is not the only way to be, but… it is the way that I am.” That line reminded me that there’s no single “right” way to be in this world. Your way of being is valid, valuable, and worthy of respect.

That quote came to life for me recently during a night out with friends I hadn’t seen or spoken to in quite some time. As the evening wrapped up, I drove a friend home, and during the ride, our conversation shifted toward the topic of personal traits. I won’t share his story—but I’ll share what I told him (in its abbreviated form).

Growing up, I was an introverted, sensitive kid—or at least, that’s what my parents and teachers often told me. I think the line they used was, “You’re too sensitive.” I never thought it was a bad thing. But over time, hearing it again and again made me feel like something was wrong with me (know that I don’t hold it against my parents or teachers. It was part of the culture back then—boys were expected to hide their emotions). Eventually, I internalized that message as a weakness and started to believe I wasn’t good enough because of it. I tried my best to hide that part of myself, to toughen up, and to be who I thought others wanted me to be.

This continued through grade school and into middle school. But during high school, I slowly began to let my guard down. As I did, I realized I could feel and see things others seemed to overlook. Later, while attending Sheridan College, that realization deepened. Through introspection and the encouragement of my Conceptual Studies professor, I came to understand that sensitivity wasn’t a flaw—it was a gift, or as some might say, a superpower. When applied with thoughtfulness and intention, it adds meaningful depth to the design process and can enhance both the clarity and impact of design.

My hope is that, if you’ve read this far, you might see a bit of yourself in it and understand that while these traits shape us, they don’t define you. Below are some qualities that often accompany sensitivity.

🧠 Emotional Intelligence
You naturally sense what others might miss. This allows you to create designs that connect deeply with people—because you can read tone, nuance, and emotional undercurrents. Designing for how something feels, not just how it looks.

👂 Empathy for Clients & Users
You’re tuned in to people’s needs, even when they can’t quite express them. You listen deeply, absorb subtext, and translate vague feedback into visual clarity—turning emotional intuition into practical, usable design.

🎯 Sensitivity to Detail
You notice the small things—the weight of a line, the tension between typefaces, how a color shift changes a mood. These subtleties matter to you because you know they matter to others, too. Precision rooted in feeling, not just form.

🌀 Creative Depth & Inner Reflection
You process the world internally, which gives you a rich, reflective creative well to draw from. That introspection often translates into thoughtful, meaningful work—design that reflects depth, not just decoration.

🔄 Intuition & Adaptability
You can tell when a concept “feels off” before anyone else does. That intuitive sense helps course-correct early—saving time and deepening impact. Knowing when to push, pause, or pivot—without needing all the data.

🌱 Integrity & Purpose-Driven Work
You’re driven by meaning. You’re not here to make noise—you want to make something that matters. Designing with soul, not ego.