YOUR RAINFOREST MIND

SUPPORT FOR THE EXCESSIVELY CURIOUS, CREATIVE, SMART & SENSITIVE

My Overexcitable, Effervescent, Unruly Rainforest Hair, I Mean, Mind — The Video

My dearest BloggEEs. I know these times are challenging, frightening, and stressful. Your sensitivity, empathy, intuition, intellect, and sense of social responsibility may make it all feel extremely overwhelming. You may be unclear about what type of action to take. I wanted to give you some support, love, and a little humor to help you through. And let you meet the person behind the words…um, me! So here it is (about 4 minutes). I hope you enjoy seeing me grapple with my overexcitable rainforest hair mind. I mention PG (profoundly gifted) levels but what I’m saying applies to the whole rainforest mind spectrum! And, as usual, my message is to continue your courageous journey to finding and expressing your True Self, your authentic voice, and your purpose(s). Let us know what you think/feel in the comments. Thank you for being here. Much love to you all.

(Note: The book I mention is by Patricia Albere.)

Meet Me And My Overexcitable Hair
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Author: Paula Prober

I’m a psychotherapist and consultant in private practice based in Eugene, Oregon. I specialize in international consulting with gifted adults and parents of gifted children. I’ve been a teacher and an adjunct instructor at the University of Oregon and a frequent guest presenter at Oregon State University and Pacific University. I’ve written articles on giftedness for the Eugene Register-Guard, the Psychotherapy Networker, Advanced Development Journal and online for psychotherapy dot net, Rebelle Society, Thrive, Introvert Dear, and Highly Sensitive Refuge. My first book, Your Rainforest Mind: A Guide to the Well-Being of Gifted Adults and Youth, is a collection of case studies of gifted clients along with many strategies and resources for gifted adults and teens. My second book, Journey Into Your Rainforest Mind: A Field Guide for Gifted Adults and Teens, Book Lovers, Overthinkers, Geeks, Sensitives, Brainiacs, Intuitives, Procrastinators, and Perfectionists is a collection of my most popular blog posts along with writing exercises for self-exploration and insight.

37 responses to “My Overexcitable, Effervescent, Unruly Rainforest Hair, I Mean, Mind — The Video”

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  1. maria das Avatar
    maria das

    So, here I am, feeling stressed out, because I had a phonecall today… I can’t recall the exact words, but it felt like “hi, I’m about to misdiagnose your beautiful son”… sigh.

    Anyway,
    While my stomach twists, you just made me smile.

    Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      <3

      Reply
  2. Karli W. Avatar
    Karli W.

    Great metaphor indeed! Loved the talk and encouragement. Stay safe, and be well everyone!

    Reply
  3. holbart Avatar
    holbart

    Oh, man!!! More videos, pretty please?!? You know, I’m still dealing with imposter syndrome after all of these years, but what I find is that, when I feel a gifted nervous system, there is this sense of, “Oh, I know that – I know that energy, I know that feeling, I see you seeing that angle, that nuance etc.” And then the g-word sort of doesn’t matter. What matters is the connection and the feeling seen and heard (mutually). I need the courage to reach out to more gifted folks so I can continue to calibrate my own experience of giftedness. So, anyways, “Thank you!”

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Good to hear from you, holbart! It’s been a while! Glad you liked the video. I will still mostly be writing but may do more videos, too. It was kinda fun. 🙂 Yeah, keep reaching out to those RFMs.

      Reply
      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        I understand! And it looked like you were having fun to me! 🙂 It’s interesting because I have learned how to indirectly reach out and find RFM peeps, but the thought of approaching the topic more directly, like by going to a “gifted (RFM) conference” or a “RFM meetup,” for instance, has always freaked me out. Last week, though, I took a local RFM from an RFM virtual group up on an invite, partially out of sheer pandemic desperation (and no energy/room to overthink). It was my first direct meetup around RFM. We went on a socially distanced walk, and it was great, like the most normal thing in 2020. Maybe even the first time I took a breath in 2020. So there’s that. 🙂 There’s just a different quality when taking on my figurative wily hair directly. So your video brought back memories of that recent experience. Living by myself in a new city during the pandemic, I have had few direct encounters of any kind, and it’s nice to see friendly faces. So, thank you!

        Reply
        1. Paula Prober Avatar
          Paula Prober

          There’s an RFM virtual group??? Do tel!!

          Reply
          1. Avatar
            Anonymous

            Oh .. . I was just referring to Intergifted. I used “RFM” to respect this context. 🙂

            Reply
  4. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    Ha, what fun! I love your hair and enjoy your analogy.

    Yep, I have curly hair myself. I’d classify it as MG (medium gifted). In order not to have birds or rodents make their nests in it, I’ve resorted in recent decades to keeping it short. I always cut it myself anyway, so the pandemic hasn’t changed anything in that regard. I’m under the illusion that, with curly hair, you can get away better with hair-murder. I see a curl getting unruly and just grab the scissors…

    But maybe later in my dotage (which I’m sure I’ve already entered), I’ll try growing it long again. It’s in that in-between stage where I wind up grabbing those scissors again, though.

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Oh, yes, another curly girl! I understand the urge to hair-murder…and I have been concerned about random critters nesting in my locks!

      Reply
  5. movedtosunshine Avatar
    movedtosunshine

    You’re adorable 🙂

    Reply
  6. Gail Post Avatar
    Gail Post

    I love this, Paula! I felt like I was sitting and having a chat with you! Love that BG – barely gifted comment. I can so relate! Actually, at one point years ago, I was reading more about giftedness, and exclaimed – oh my gosh – I think I might be gifted. And of course, one of my sons was in the room and without missing a beat, commented, “Yeah, good one, mom.” Always keeping me in line!

    As for hair, mine doesn’t even reach the BG level, haha. It has a mind of its own, though, and I can never control it, so have given up. Thanks again for sharing your story with us.

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      I think you and I definitely need to sit down for a chat, Gail!!

      Reply
  7. artyplantsman Avatar
    artyplantsman

    This is great Paula. And I love your hair! I have not had a hair cut since February and it really just doesn’t seem important any more. I am back in the lab since mid May, with a skeleton staff, but none of them care what I look like, and they think I am eccentric anyway.
    You are absolutely right about things being overwhelming and the last month has seen a pronounced dip in my mood as a result. Thank you for this video 🙂 x

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      I’m happy to help, artyplantsman. Sending a hug!

      Reply
      1. artyplantsman Avatar
        artyplantsman

        Thank you and a big hug to you too!

        Reply
  8. itssue42 Avatar
    itssue42

    Thank you so very much for that video, it is marvelous and just what a lonely rfm soul needs to feel better and smile. And ah such gorgeous, unruly, intricate, beautiful beautiful hair! Hugs to all

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Thanks, itssue42! 🙂

      Reply
  9. River Aaland Avatar
    River Aaland

    Did you make this for me?? Hahaha. As you know, I am low-key obsessed with your hair. You’re great on video! Thanks for this wonderful video–a good analogy and such a loving message. Very timely. It’s so hard to remember to let myself shine and that maybe, just maybe, that’s actually what the world needs.

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      THAT is surely what the world needs, River!!

      Reply
  10. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Yes! The Flirting with Dangerous Curls Society for Girls…

    Reply
    1. reluctantarchaeologist Avatar
      reluctantarchaeologist

      seriously fabulous title, Sara.

      Reply
    2. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Love it!

      Reply
  11. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Perhaps we need a global PG hair support group😅….

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Definitely!

      Reply
  12. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Oh Paula!🤣 My excessively gifted hair, which has always been seemed to be more like an unruly pet requiring much oversight and corraling, has not been trimmed since January. The medusa vibe is way out of control…Someone said to me Saturday, “ oh your hair just needs a good brushing”. I replied, “I just brushed it!”. What a great analogy for accepting and expressing who we see every day in the mirror and embody in our lives. And how great to see your dear face and hear your kind voice.

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Oh my, brushing curly hair??? Dangerous! 🙂 Glad to meet another curly girl!

      Reply
  13. ellabirt Avatar
    ellabirt

    You are fantastic on video! So good to see you. I let out a good cry at the end – I’ve been feeling so lonely and pushing my boundaries because I’m ready to connect and share my gifts, but it is ever so difficult. There is so much bravery and experimentation in the process of connecting authentically, but once I am committed to a path of growth it is inevitable.

    Lately, all my diligent, hard work has been integrating in amazing ways. I feel safety inside of me and it is spreading to the outside. In these moments where the strength from my center of centers is so bright, my feet feel so secure when I walk and every face looks familiar. My dreams are speaking to me so clearly, last night I thanked a young girl in my dream who offered me a gem of wisdom by saying, “Thank you, unconscious.” I am seeing with greater clarity each time something clicks, and not just in my mind – the clicking is this realization becoming one with my body from the soles of my feet to the tips of my fingers and every strand of hair. But this becoming is not linear and peers and support are pillars needed for this journey, so I seek them out with the same efforts required to reveal my own inner allies.

    I will see about that book and community! I’ve been creating a community of my own recently, Waking Dream Society in support of highly-sensitive creatives self-actualizing and healing themselves and our world, but it may be out of order as I have no community to gather yet and am still fighting my own greatest strengths.

    Many thanks for this much needed inspiration and your lovely face.

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Remember to be gentle with yourself and the timing of all of it ellabirt. There is absolutely a bright light inside you. Good to see it spreading to the outside. Sending you hugs. <3

      Reply
  14. Marina Berts Avatar
    Marina Berts

    Thank you for your video, Paula! Your PG hair is just beautiful – just like all the RF minds out there. And I’m happy to be part of them, even though it sometimes seems like a hopeless struggle. And true – the world needs our creative energy and open minds. Be proud, all of you, and keep going in these troubled times! Big hug to everyone.

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Yes, Marina!! <3

      Reply
  15. rsc33 Avatar
    rsc33

    Hi Paula, how delightful to finally ‘meet’ you! I loved this video and found myself nodding along in agreement with you. Sadly, I don’t have your spectacular PG hair (but I very much enjoyed your analogy). In terms of my own ‘hair’ 😉 I realised years ago that if I can’t, or don’t choose to, embrace my own giftedness, I could never expect my (now teenage) daughter to truly accept her own. I realised that I needed to be the catalyst (both in my own family, and in the wider world) and I needed to ‘role model’ what it is to be gifted. In our family, we talk giftedness, OEs, intensity, and sensitivity as these traits run to the very core of each one of us, and frame our experiences. This is our language of loving and understanding ourselves, and each other.

    I have (in an unofficial capacity) gently led quite a few other families to understand their own giftedness – to me, ‘seeing’ giftedness in others is intuitive as I am a pattern finder. I am also eternally grateful to have found (at a meet up for gifted families in New Zealand), my highly gifted BFF. She is a shining light in the world (hi Ana Lucia if you’re reading this) and I am blessed to have met her. We ‘see’ each others giftedness (and the giftedness within each of our families) and have been able to support each other along the way.

    Finally, you are SO right – the world needs us (whether it realises it or not!). PS I now have a serious case of PG hair envy 🙂

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      It’s so special when we do find a BFF! Thank you for the encouragement, rsc33. I wasn’t sure about putting this out into the world!

      Reply
  16. Coaching the Gifted Avatar
    Coaching the Gifted

    Loved the metaphor and your modeling of stepping into your grandness and full effervescence. The planet does need the splendor of our diversity, and it is calling out for us to appreciate and celebrate the diversity that others bring, too. It is through our fullness and our splendor that we will save each other and the planet.

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Absolutely. Thank you for being here!

      Reply
  17. reluctantarchaeologist Avatar
    reluctantarchaeologist

    Thank you, Paula, for this analogy! I’ve often thought of my own naturally curly, wild hair as a reflection of the intensity, chaos, and creativity that lies therein. It’s a very apt analogy: I can’t control it, it does what it does when it does, it refuses change and needs to be persuaded, and it is greatly affected by internal and external factors.

    A few years ago, I had to stop colouring my hair. It just wouldn’t hold the colour any more because it was turning grey. So I cut it all off and started over. That was, interestingly, about the time I decided enough was enough and to let my true inner weird intensity show. Now my hair is au naturel and so is my personality — no more colouring or covering up! At mid-life, I’m accepting my wild hair as I’m accepting my wild self. And, I’m also digging into what my wild self truly is so that I can accept it all and express it all….with a bit of product to help tailor it for the outside world 🙂

    I greatly appreciate your blog, Paula! Keep it up.

    Reply
    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      So fascinating, isn’t it? “…accepting my wild hair…accepting my wild self…” Me, too! 🙂

      Reply
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