Cliff Harwin – The Highly Sensitive Person Publishing Company

#HighlySensitivePeople #Introverts: Declare Emotional Independence—Starting Now!

Post category:Assertiveness

Declare Emotional Independence—Starting Now! Happy Independence Day to my U.S. readers—and to everyone around the World! Are you truly free? Personally. Emotionally. Socially. Too many sensitive, introverted, or socially anxious people are still living under emotional rule. Controlled by fear. Silenced by guilt. Sidelined by those who dismiss or disrespect them—at work, in relationships, even at home. You might look independent from the outside…But are you free to speak up?Free to set boundaries?Free to say “No,” without explaining yourself into exhaustion? Independence Day always gets me thinking—not just about countries, but about people like us. People who’ve spent years over-accommodating, over-apologizing, and quietly shrinking to stay “safe.” But what if this year…You made your own quiet Declaration of Independence? You don’t have to take up…

#HighlySensitivePeople #Introverts: Feeling overwhelmed? It might not be your fault!

Post category:Anxiety

#HighlySensitivePeople #Introverts: Feeling Overwhelmed? It might not be your fault! Most of us aren’t overwhelmed because we’re weak, disorganized, or bad at time management. We’re overwhelmed because we’re constantly trying to fit ourselves into a world that doesn’t fit us. A world that praises nonstop productivity and punishes rest. A world that shames quiet souls for needing time to process. A world that treats deep feeling like a flaw instead of a strength. As a highly sensitive introvert, I’ve often felt like I should be able to do more, push harder, and keep up with everyone else. But the truth? That mindset nearly broke me. Yes—some structure helps. But time management alone isn’t the whole answer. The real shift happens when we stop treating our…

#HighlySensitivePeople #Introverts: Are you addicted to unhappiness?

Post category:Happiness

#HighlySensitivePeople #Introverts: Are you addicted to unhappiness? Do you secretly believe that happiness is for other people—not you? If you're highly sensitive or introverted, you feel everything more deeply—including pain, disappointment, and loss. So it's no surprise that some of us quietly believe we don’t deserve to be happy. Or worse, that happiness is dangerous. Here’s the uncomfortable truth:Some sensitive people are unconsciously addicted to unhappiness. It feels familiar. It earns us sympathy. It keeps us "safe" from the risk of joy—because joy can be taken away. But here's what no one tells you:Your sensitivity is also the key to exquisite happiness. When you give yourself permission to feel joy—really feel it—you experience it more deeply than most people ever will. The problem?Many of us…

#HighlySensitivePeople #Introverts: Another undone task? Is procrastination stealing your life, one delay at a time?

Post category:Procrastination

Another undone task? Is procrastination stealing your life, one delay at a time? Full disclosure:I’m a highly sensitive person with introverted tendencies and social anxiety.I’m also a recovering chronic procrastinator—and I believe this quiet struggle is more serious than most people realize. Let’s get real.Procrastination isn’t just laziness. It’s not a joke.It can cost you your job, your relationships, your peace of mind.And yet… most professionals still call it a “bad habit.”Really? What if procrastination is an overlooked form of addiction?Not to a substance—but to avoidance.To numbing. To the illusion of “later.”It’s sneaky. It shows up as busyness, perfectionism, people-pleasing, indecision.And for many sensitive, introverted souls like us, it becomes a way to survive the overwhelm. But here’s the truth:When you’re constantly putting things off,…