Xavier Dupont

Introvert and HSP Life Coach

Being an introvert or/and Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is not considered as a mental health disorder. It’s a personality trait. Introverts make up 30 to 50 percent of the population, while sensitive people make up 15 to 20 percent. So, it’s difficult for people who are introverted and/or highly sensitive to live in an extrovert-oriented culture – especially in the western world.

What is the difference between introverted and extroverted people?

• Spend time in solitude (vs have large social network)
• Avoid being the center of attention (vs enjoy being the center of attention)
• Think before they speak (vs think out loud)
• Value close1:1 relationship (vs love being in large groups)
• Need time alone to recharge and reflect (vs gain energy from being around other people)
• Prefer working in quiet, independent environments (vs thrive in team oriented and open work settings)
• Deeply focus and think about specific interests (vs make quick decisions)
• To be seen as reserved (vs outgoing, enthusiastic and positive)

Highly Sensitive Person personality traits:

A HSP is an individual who perceives and processes sensory information intensely, exhibits profound emotional responses, demonstrates heightened empathy, requires periods of seclusion for relief, and typically avoids distressing situations. (The term was highlighted by psychologist Elaine N. Aron in the mid-1990s.)

Highly sensitive people tend to:

• Dislike Violence
• Be sensitive to others’ emotions
• Feel overstimulated by sound, smell, taste, bright lights and uncomfortable clothes
• Have a rich inner life
• Be overwhelmed when people try to get them to do too many things at once
• Dislike change and tend to avoid having a lot going on due to the strong emotions associated with it
• Be very perceptive of their environment
• Feel that they need to withdraw and get relief from the stimulation created by noisy places, crowded and busy environments
• Be move deeply by art, music, nature etc…
• Be very intuitive.

A Highly sensitive person is thought to have increased or deeper central nervous system (CNS) sensitivity to multiple stimuli, whether physical, emotional, environmental or social. In literature, HSP is often referred to as sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), which is not to be confused with sensory processing disorder, a condition that affects how the brain processes sensory information.

While Introverted and HSP share similar characteristics, there are also some keys differences.

Similarities include:

• Both are introspective and reflective.
• Both need plenty of downtime.
• Both may struggle with anxiety and feeling overwhelmed.
• Both may feel out of place in society.

Differences include:

• Sensitive people can be introverted or extraverted.
• Sensitive people and introverted people experience emotions differently.
• Sensitive and introverted people react to stimulation differently.
• Introverts crave solitude, while sensitive people don’t.

Of course, everybody is different and will manifest these personality traits to a certain degree. You need to evaluate where you stand on the spectrum of Introversion and Sensitivity.

My 28 years in the corporate world, as well as my 20 years of emigrations and expatriations (living and working in countries like France – my home country – Russia, USA, Canada, and now in South Africa), have given me plenty of experience on how to deal with the negative aspect of introversion and sensitivity. I had to find coping mechanisms and adapt to my environment. Understanding who I was and accepting my personality traits, including my strengths and weaknesses, was the starting point to change and adapt to this world.

Anxiety, Depression, Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), isolation, feelings of loneliness, not being understood, low self-esteem and low confidence are some of the effects that I have experienced during my life.

What clients say

Oh wow! Thank You Xavier for your patience and walking the journey with me. I never imagined the 12 weeks would change my life so much in many aspects. I feel renewed and ready to face anything coming my way.

If you are reading this and hesitating, don’t! 

Just go in and embrace the process and surrender completely and you will be amazed at the results.

Leona.N

I had the privilege of working with an exceptional life coach, Xavier, and I can’t help but share my experience with others. Finding the right life coach can be a daunting task, but I can confidently say that I struck gold when I found him. Xavier’s ability to truly listen, understand, and create a safe and non-judgmental space for me to open and explore my thoughts and fears sets him apart from the rest. He respected my unique journey and never pushed his agenda. His exceptional listening and empathetic skills made me feel understood and validated, something that is often missing in the fast-paced world we live in. Xavier possesses the remarkable ability to ask the right questions, sparking introspection and self-discovery. He has been an amazing coach and a great person. He has guided me to achieve goals that I never imagined and has also shown me his witty personality and his French accent.

If you are searching for a life coach who listens, understands, and respects your unique perspective, Xavier is the person you are looking for. I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone ready to embark on a transformative journey towards self-discovery and goal achievement.

Avashna.K

A last word

The most valuable lessons that I’ve had were not when everything was fine. Instead, it was when life shook me to my core values. All these emotions were in fact my best teachers. You only grow when you acknowledge and face what you are struggling with.

If these words resonate with you, please do not hesitate to contact me.