-
When You Have a Rainforest Mind, You Are a Force of Nature
I spend my days with forces of nature–extremely dynamic, intense, smart, sensitive humans. Many have survived the torrential downpours and earthquakes of childhood abuse and neglect. They have more than survived. Against all odds, they have remained kind-hearted, loving, generous souls who have taken courageous steps into the psychotherapy caldron to grieve their losses ,…
-
Creative Ideas for Booknerds and Sensitive Outliers Wandering, Wondering, and Worrying Through the Holiday Season
This is not my favorite time of year. I am not all sparkly and full of good cheer. I often write entertaining posts during the holidays like this one and this one that remind those of you who are feeling extra lonely during this season, that, well, I’m here for you! I’m working on developing…
-
How I Let Wonder, Beauty, Sweetness, and Love into My Heart and How I Broke it Open
One day I was seeing my too-pretty-for-her-own-good acupuncturist and talking (for the millionth time) about how truly messed up the world is. I didn’t have to provide proof. There is plenty. I don’t have to tell you. I was saying that my particular life was sweet and safe and fulfilling but that I couldn’t really…
-
How to Feed Your Voracious Appetite for All the Things While Making Time for Balance and Rest
When you are so intense, complex, exuberant, and curious, learning your next instrument or your next language or examining your latest discovery, how do you assess your level of capacity, interests, and enthusiams so you know when you’ve moved out of pure passion into overdrive, over commitment, or overwhelm? How do you know when you…
-
Do Not Slow Down, Quiet Down, Wait, Think Less, Feel Less, and Shrink Even if it Feels Safer to Do Just That
You may have received messages from relatives, friends, teachers, therapists, and your cat Frederick to slow down, quiet down, wait, think less, feel less, and shrink. You may have felt overwhelmed by events on Planet Earth so you have wanted to hide, retreat, shut down, and sob endlessly. You may be tempted to jump into…
-
You Are Never Too Old (or Too Smart) to Find a New Friend
You are never too old (or too smart) to find a new friend. Partners may come, partners may go. But a good, close friend is worth more than, well, maybe, anything. That said, it might be particularly hard for you to find one if your rainforest mind is so vast that no one you know…
-
Strategies for Living in a Troubled World When Your Empathy Meter is Overloaded and Your Synapses are Imploding
Many of you are likely reeling from the multiple crises facing humanity these days. Chances are, your empathy meter is way overloaded and your synapses are imploding from the inner and outer pressure to reconfigure or unleash your mind palace to save this troubled world. I understand. I am also overloaded and imploding. So, today,…