“I can be very hard on myself. I convince myself that I’m fooling people. Or, I convince myself that people like the book for the wrong reasons.” Jonathan Safran Foer – about his novel Everything Is Illuminated, which made The New York Times best-seller list. He also commented, “The writing itself is no big deal. [...]
Career change expert Valerie Young notes she put herself through college “the way a lot of young people do, by waitressing” – and the place she worked holds value as a lesson in developing business ventures. She writes: One wild summer my sister Susan and I worked at the then famous Thompson’s Clam Bar in [...]
After he saw his parents go from winning a state lottery to being bankrupt and on the verge of divorce, Dean Whittingham researched what led them from “utter bliss to despair and depression” – and strategies to help other people stay successful. At least part of the answer is in terms of brain function. “How [...]
“Even Mozart’s early abilities were not the product of some innate spiritual gift.” That comment is from a NY Times op-ed by David Brooks, who adds, “His early compositions were nothing special. They were pastiches of other people’s work. “Mozart was a good musician at an early age, but he would not stand out among [...]
“It’s hard to focus. It’s hard to have a conversation without checking the iPhone. It’s hard to go to a shrink and spend a few minutes on the couch and not need to see what’s happening…. It’s even hard to finish a thought.” That is a quote from the article A creative retreat in the [...]
“I believe I can fly; I believe I can touch the sky; I think about it every night and day; Spread my wings and fly away; I believe I can soar…” Dick (Jim Carrey) from a scene in Fun with Dick and Jane. Feeling exuberantly self-assured after getting a promotion, he sings the R. Kelly [...]
Therapist Belinda Seiger, PhD says she has “known many gifted women who seem to possess what I refer to as the ‘rage to achieve.’ “They are constantly driven to learn, to create and to be intellectually productive even while raising young children.” Author Amy Bloom (photo; she is Writer-in-Residence, Wesleyan University) has commented on the [...]
Many actors, musicians and other entertainers report they experience stage fright, but making a speech or public presentation can also produce so much performance anxiety you aren’t able to express your personality and creative ideas as well as you could without the fear, in more control of your emotions. Or you don’t even attempt something [...]
By guest author Morty Lefkoe Why do so many people believe that they have to put in a lot of time and effort—and then need a lot of reinforcement—in order to produce a lasting change in their life? People hold this belief because they have tried unsuccessfully to change a variety of things in their [...]
Many workplaces and jobs can be exciting, creatively stimulating and emotionally rewarding, and a means to realize and expand your abilities. Others can feel like being sentenced to a sweatshop. Especially if you’re dealing with anxiety or sensory overwhelm as a highly sensitive person. And being highly sensitive can increase our vulnerability to anxiety, as [...]
Creative expression involves many skills and cognitive abilities, which may be enhanced by activities such as video games. And creative performance can enhance skills outside of art. Hilda Huang, 14, is acclaimed for her piano performances of Bach. She made her debut at Carnegie Hall at age 11. This is from a recent interview: Question: [...]
Sure, there are some short-term, concrete or very narrow goals that are useful steps in developing your talents and making your life better. But many personal growth leaders promote the idea of making long-term, life mission kind of goals as a needed part of personal achievement. I have never felt comfortable with that strategy, and [...]
One of the keys to developing our talents is believing in our abilities and competence. Chris and Janet Attwood of The Passion Test point out “there are only three things that prevent anyone from living their passions: false beliefs, false concepts and false ideas.” “In coaching thousands of people on The Passion Test, the one [...]
I’ve always been embarrassed by my history on the job. So many failed idealistic attempts to change things. So many years working at jobs where I didn’t fit and wasn’t using my talents. If I’d understood a bit more about giftedness, I might have sought out more appropriate situations. The research of Roland S. Persson, [...]
Janet Attwood: In our society, people have been taught that you can’t make a living and do what you love to do at the same time. People are waking up to the realization that – to the extent you are living your passion you’re happy and successful. I’m talking about being happy and successful in [...]
Entelechy is another term for the force that motivates and guides us toward self-fulfillment. Whatever we call it, it’s powerful. Eric Maisel, PhD writes in a sample from his Meaning Solution Program: Self-actualization is a lovely word that stands for our desire to make the most of our talents. Instead of using only a small [...]
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Site author: Douglas Eby, M.A./Psychology, is a writer and researcher on the psychology of creative expression and personal growth, especially for high ability adults. He is publisher of the Talent Development Resources series of sites.
