-
Smart Sensitive Men Are In Trouble
Smart sensitive men are in trouble. You know what I’m talking about. What do you do with all that emotion? All that empathy? All that awareness? How do you handle your grief? Your love of art or poetry or pink? Your despair over the violence you see in the world? Your tears? I think it’s hard…
-
If I’m So Smart, Why Was School Such A Drag?
You were five years old and couldn’t wait to get to school. But when you got there, something went terribly wrong. You anticipated learning all about the solar system and reading all of the books that you could get your curious little hands on. But, instead, you were told to help the other kids identify the letters…
-
Being Told That You’re Gifted — Good News And Bad News
I make a pretty convincing argument in this blog that you have a rainforest mind. In spite of yourself, you have to agree. Right? On the other hand, when I tell you that you’re gifted, I can see you squirm. For many reasons. For one– being told that you’re gifted is both good news and bad news.…
-
Guest Post on Sensitivity– by poet and therapist Anne Allanketner
Anne Allanketner is a poet and psychotherapist from Portland, Oregon. Her books of poems, Spells of Mending and Three Springs, are beautiful, magical and healing. This poem, from Spells, is her tribute to your rainforest mind. Crystalline Structures You are made of crystalline structures, that vibrate like tuning forks. Their delicate iridescent wings unfurl and…
-
Most Popular Post of 2014 — If I’m So Smart Why Am I So Dumb?
People may have told you that you were smart. But you may not feel smart. Why? Because you graduated from college with a 2.65 grade point average after changing your major 5 times. Why? Because you never finish any of the projects you start. Why? Because you can’t decide what color to paint the bedroom…
-
My Overexcitable Hair
Admit it. You exude effervescence, exuberance and ebullience. Maybe it’s in the way you talk. Or the way you write. Maybe it’s in how you gush over photos from the Mars Rover. Or how you swoon over Sherlock. In my last post, I briefly explained “overexcitabilities.” (OEs) The expression comes from psychologist K. Dabrowski‘s research on giftedness. He says…
-
Raising A Kid Who’s Just Like You
What do you do when you’re excruciatingly sensitive, severely intense, outrageously curious, and wildly imaginative and you’re raising a kid who is JUST LIKE YOU? Do you– run away from home? Move to a state where marijuana is legal? Outsource your child to India? Create a reality TV show? Maybe. Are there other options? Yep. First,…
-
The Hazards Of Praise And Too Much Smartness
Perhaps you were a curious, effervescent 8 year old. You adored your books and your teachers. You excelled at academics and got straight A’s. Your parents were thrilled by your accomplishments and told you how smart you were. Teachers appreciated your helpfulness and praised you for your grades. The attention was well-meant but excessive. It felt good, and yet, you questioned the truth…
-
The Arrogant Know-It-All Conundrum
My counseling clients talk fast. They use words I don’t recognize. They notice when I’m a teensy weensy bit distracted. I don’t know how it happened that I became a therapist for smart people. OK, for g-g-gifted people. Seriously, on the continuum of giftedness, I’m BG. (barely gifted) I’m not asking you to feel sorry for me. I love my…
YOUR RAINFOREST MIND
SUPPORT FOR THE EXCESSIVELY CURIOUS, CREATIVE, SMART & SENSITIVE
