A while back, I went on an alcohol break for 40 days. It was during the festive season, and I didn’t think I could handle it.
But I did, and I loved it!
I loved saying no to a glass of whatever was happening (yay to boundaries!). I loved the uncomfortable looks I got whenever I poured myself a cup of hot water instead of the whisky or gin making rounds.
And I loved being sober amongst my not-sober cousins.
The experience was delightfully refreshing.
So today, I was thinking about all the things that can happen in one year. Taking a break from alcohol is one of the things that can happen.
But I was thinking in terms of personal growth and self-improvement. Things that you, as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), can make happen in 2023; to better yourself and live your best HSP life.
And I came up with these ten things.
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10 Things That Can Happen in 2023
1. Learning to set healthy boundaries.
Setting boundaries is a common struggle for Highly Sensitive People (HSPs). Mostly because HSPs hate hurting people and believe that saying no is a form of rejection.
And this is the reason you might find yourself doing activities that are of no interest to you.
But did you know that learning to set healthy boundaries can help you stop feeling guilty about saying no to people? And that you can finally learn to exempt yourself from unwanted roles and activities.
If this is a common issue for you, learning to set healthy boundaries is one of the things that can happen to you this year. And this course for HSPs can help you achieve that.
2. Becoming self-aware (or improving your self-awareness)
Learning you are a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is one of the best things that can happen to you.
I know this because that’s exactly how I felt when I discovered I’m an HSP. It helped me feel seen and understood – something that was missing in my life.
But my lack of understanding of the HSP trait made me question every decision I’ve ever made. And that led me to feel lost, alone, and like I no longer know myself, which is why I’m on a self-discovery journey in my 30s.
So if you are anything like me and are struggling with self-awareness, that is something you can work on this year.
3. Learning to forgive yourself (so you can also forgive others and move on)
Learning to forgive is another of the great things that can happen to you in 2023.
Research shows that people who have learned to forgive improve their psychological and physiological wellness, and earn protection against future hurt.
And because learning to forgive yourself as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is harder than forgiving others, why don’t you make it a priority this year?
4. Mastering Self-Acceptance.
I believe if you can truly accept yourself, there’s no obstacle you can’t face. Because self-acceptance requires you to accept your positive and negative traits. And achieving that requires the strongest state of mind.
So by mastering self-acceptance and truly accepting yourself, you also gain the mental strength to overcome any obstacles.
And as a Highly Sensitive Person, I don’t need to tell you how important mental wellness is for your personal growth.
5. Learning how to stop People-Pleasing
This is directly related to learning how to set healthy boundaries. Because for you to stop people-pleasing, you must be able to set boundaries.
So if these two have been a common struggle for you, enrol in this course for HSPs to learn more about boundaries and being the best HSP you can be.
6. Learning to love yourself when you don’t know how
This is the title of our 40-day guidebook on self-love. It’s for you if you are struggling to love yourself as a Highly Sensitive Person.
And because it only takes you 40 days to learn, it makes a great entry for this list of great things that can happen in 2023.
But remember, learning how to love yourself when you don’t know how doesn’t guarantee success. Practising what you learn is what matters.
7. Developing a self-care routine (that’s specific to your HSP needs)
While it’s important to practise self-care, not every self-care routine will work for you as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).
So it’s also important to consider your specific HSP needs when developing a self-care routine. Think about your sensitivities when it comes to your skin, environment, and sensory reactions.
8. Learning to reduce anxiety and overwhelming emotions
As a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), dealing with anxiety and overwhelming emotions comes with the package. It’s one of the disadvantages of having the HSP trait because you feel and process information deeply.
But just because it’s a disadvantage doesn’t mean you will struggle with it forever.
There are resources and tools that you can use to learn how to reduce anxiety and overwhelming emotions. And this free class will teach you how.
9. Starting a podcast, blog or other online business about HSPs
Have you been wanting to start a podcast, blog, or another business for and about HSPs? This might be the year to get started.
And you don’t need to do it alone because there’s plenty of help for HSPs wanting to start a business. For instance, these business courses for HSPs are created to help you start or grow a heart-centred online business.
So if that’s something you want to do, it’s one of the things that can happen to you in 2023.
10. Learning to leverage your HSP trait at work, home, in your relationship, or in business.
Did you know that the HSP trait is a strength and not a weakness? It may be difficult to relate High Sensitivity to strength because society has made us believe otherwise.
But in reality, when the HSP trait is harnessed, you can accomplish anything and even become more successful than people without the trait.
So if you are struggling to succeed at work, at home, in your relationship, or business because you think your trait is a weakness, it may be time to unlearn that. And this course for HSPs is a great place to start learning.
What You Need to Remember
What’s important is not having a list of things that can happen in 2023. What’s important is taking action to accomplish the items on the list.
And not as a bucket list of things you need to tick off.
Instead, take one item on the list you’re currently struggling with and take the necessary steps to learn how to overcome it.
And I’ll start you off with an example.
If you struggle to develop self-love, this 40-day guide on how to love yourself can be of great help. It takes you through six weeks of introspection and journal prompts.
So you can identify the exact areas you are struggling with and work through them towards total self-love.
Give it a try, and let your next 40 days lead you to a more self-loving you.
In the End
This list of 10 things that can happen in 2023 covers common issues that HSPs struggle with, including people-pleasing, setting boundaries, self-love, self-forgiveness, and self-acceptance.
You can create your list. Include the things you’d love to learn in the next 40 days. And then, pick one that you can start working on today.
Before you know it, one item after another, you’ll transform into the person you’ve always dreamt of becoming – the best version of yourself.
So start today, and let’s take stock in six months. And then again in another six months.
***
with love and kindness,
Selipha.
