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No Better Time To Share Your Complicated Colorful Self With The World
Every day when I wake up and turn on NPR, I hear another disturbing story. I do not need to tell you. You hear it, too. You feel it. You grieve for the people. The animals. The plants. For the planet. Some days you try denial for a while. I know I do. Many days…
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What Might Exceptional Giftedness Look Like in Kids and Adults?
When Carol was three years old, she taught herself to read. At age six, she gave her Barbie a lobotomy. At seven, she picked Rembrandt as the person she respected most, because of his use of light. When she was eight, she refused to say the pledge of allegiance in school because she didn’t agree that…
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Do You Have a Rainforest Mind? Why Does it Matter?
What is a rainforest mind? Do you have one? Do you want one? Might it be better to have a meadow mind or a corn field mind? Simpler. Quieter. Predictable. Organized. Productive, but not overwhelmingly so. Beautiful, but not a sensory overload extravaganza. Think about it. The rainforest. Your jungle mind. Overflowing with intense, lush,…
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If You’re Gifted, Are You Responsible for Everyone and Everything Until the End of Time?
The following questions can plague the rainforest-minded: If someone asks you for help, and you have the skills that they need, are you always supposed to say yes to them? If someone asks you for help, and you have the skills that they need and you say no, should you feel utterly and totally guilty for…
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What Do Political Activism, Giftedness, and Your Dysfunctional Family Have in Common?
Your rainforest mind is often thinking or overthinking or maybe even obsessing about changing the world. Perhaps you were told that because you’re so smart, you have a responsibility to do something important. Or maybe you’ve just felt responsible on your own. Since you were 5, or thereabouts. Maybe you’ve become politically active. Joined an…
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Spiritual Intelligence: Creating a Compassionate World
Being the super sensitive, emotional, deeply aware human that you are, I suspect that you’re feeling a bit discombobulated these days. OK. Extremely distressed and anxious these days. From where I sit in North America, there’s a lot to be discombobulated (read: extremely distressed and anxious) about. A lot. You may be overwhelmed with grief,…
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Surviving The Hectic, Harrowing, Holiday Season Hoopla
The holiday season has arrived. It’s a busy time for psychotherapists. Or it will be: In January when all of the retraumatized, triggered, overwhelmed, lonely, exhausted, disappointed humans reach out for help. No one is immune to the hectic harrowing holiday season hoopla. You may think that you’re the only one bewildered, lonely or sad.…
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I’m Not Gifted, I’m Just Weird
You’d think that gifted people would know how smart they are. You’d think that gifted individuals would find life to be smooth and easy. You’d think that gifted folks would feel superior and judgmental of all non-gifted humans everywhere. Nope. No way. Not the ones I know. And I’ve known a lot of them. I’m…
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Sensitivity Is Your Superpower
In times like these, you may wish that you had less sensitivity. Life as an empathetic soul is often overwhelming. It can be easy to fall into despair or anxiety. And because you are capable in multiple ways, relatives, friends, coworkers, neighbors, strangers, plants and animals may be clamoring for your assistance. You may be…