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If you’re a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)—or love one—this conversation is a deep exhale. Todd Smith, founder of True Inner Freedom and a longtime facilitator of Byron Katie’s The Work, joins Melissa to unpack what “living with an open heart” actually looks like when life gets complicated: relationships, conflict, people-pleasing, and the comparing mind. We explore Todd’s three pillars of stress management for HSPs (understanding the trait, outer work/boundaries, and inner work), how The Work turns sticky stories into spaciousness, and why transcendental meditation has been his twice-daily reset since childhood. We also touch on HSP overlaps with ADHD and rejection sensitivity dysphoria, leadership strengths like empathy and systems-level thinking, and the myth that sensitivity equals fragility. If you’re ready to move from overthinking to inner freedom—this one’s for you.

What you’ll learn

• The HSP basics (15–20% of people): depth of processing, empathy, sensory sensitivity, and why overwhelm happens
• Todd’s 3-pillar stress framework for HSPs:
  1. Understand the trait (drop self-judgment; claim your strengths)
  2. Outer work (sleep, nourishment, boundaries that are kind and clear)
  3. Inner work (question stressful thoughts with The Work; find space inside even when nothing outside changes)
• A gentle walkthrough of The Work of Byron Katie (the four questions + turnarounds) and how to keep the “stuck” part of you safe while you inquire
• Moving from conflict-avoidant to creatively resourced (why arguing with reality doubles your stress)
• People-pleasing vs. integrity (how to say no without abandoning yourself)
• Meditation as a daily “reset” and why awareness widens when attachment loosens
• HSP leadership superpowers: deep listening, pattern-spotting, and bringing opposites together

Resources & links

• Todd’s podcast: Stress Management for Highly Sensitive People (search “HSP” in your podcast app)
• HSP Stress Test (Todd): trueinnerfreedom.com (look for “HSP Stress Test”)
• The Work by Byron Katie: the four questions + worksheets (official site)
• Dr. Elaine Aron’s books on Highly Sensitive People (foundational research)
• Quote referenced: Jack Kornfield, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry

About Todd Smith
Todd Smith is the founder of True Inner Freedom, a longtime facilitator of The Work of Byron Katie, and a lifelong meditator. He helps highly sensitive people move beyond fear, people-pleasing, and overthinking to confidence, clarity, and connection.

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