Enough is Enough – Saying No is Bouncing Back

May 29, 2013 By Edith Johnston Leave a Comment

Enough is enough when you are asked to do many things, or expect many things of yourself. Part of resiliency strategy is saying no, setting boundaries. Knowing your own limits, priorities and the balance you desire lets you maintain a greater consistency of energy. ……

Resiliency is stretching the rubber band to expand and grow and yet maintaining the components that contribute to who you are so that the rubber band has the means to stretch.

See the entire post at:

An Intense Life

Embracing chaos every day

Enough is Enough — Saying No is Bouncing Back

Filed Under: A Journey in Personal Development Tagged With: Edith Johnston, flow, multi-talented, resiliency

Multi-Talent Journey of Personal Development

May 11, 2013 By Edith Johnston Leave a Comment

UNDERSTANDING

Multi-talented High Ability Intelligent Multipotentiality

Gifted Talented Scanner Smart Indigo

Genius Brainy Nerd Brilliant

Geek Bright Creative

OVERCOMING

Barriers Intensity Overexcitabilites Sensitivities

Self-Doubt Imposter Syndrome Self-Sabotage

Expectations Not fitting in Mediocrity Injustices

Depression Existential Perfection Vulnerability

Distractibility Rapid Ideas Underachievement Easy street

Driven Questioning Isolation Withdrawn Pain

DEVELOPING

Learn how to learn Coping Strategies Mastery Potential

Practice Balance Self-Care Skills Focus

Choices Flow Meaning Self-definition Growth

Whole Responsibility Passion Drive Dreams

Reality Blossoming Creating Process Options

EXPRESSING

Self-expression Create Solve Ideas Patterns

Display Resolve Develop Design Demonstrate

Define Share Paint Dance Draw Write

Formulate Lead Compose Sculpt Organize

Concrete Manifest Make Happen Legacy

CONNECTING

Self Like Minds Others Friends Family Community

Groups Relationships World Interconnections Intraconnection

The Dots Ideas People Colleagues Peers Big Picture

Puzzle Mind Map Thoughts Collaboration Teams Cooperation

Lead/Follow Supportive Passive Dynamic

Filed Under: A Journey in Personal Development, Connecting, Developing, Expressing, Overcoming, Understanding Tagged With: multi-talented, personal development, personal growth

My Body feels drained or is it my Soul?

April 24, 2013 By Edith Johnston Leave a Comment

Exhaustion from day in and day out. It is necessary to nurture your soul. Read the entire post at An Intense Life | Embracing chaos every day

PLAY– Something that will make our hearts sing, souls dance, and can be remembered again and again with joy and happiness. Barbara Brennen in ‘The Gift of Play’.

Filed Under: A Journey in Personal Development

A Work In Progress

April 12, 2013 By Edith Johnston Leave a Comment

It really is progressing! Step by step, a new space is being created.

Basement gutted

Yes, the restoration/renovation was out of necessity. To enable the insurance dollars to stretch a little further I am doing some of the work myself. I am doing the “painting”. That requires the mud work, the caulking, the primer and the paint. Best to do the “painting” before the flooring (carpet and tile) is installed. So yes, step by step progress is being made.

Basement Progress

Any work in progress to “create” is a marvelous journey. Each project has its moments of demise and moments of exhilaration. And guess what I am a work in progress – on a journey to create the very best me expressing my multi-talents with exuberance.

How is your journey going? Are you progressing step by step to create YOU? Tell us about your work in progress…..

Filed Under: A Journey in Personal Development, Let's Play Tagged With: Edith Johnston, multi-talented, play

New at An Intense Life: Adult Enrichment and Creativity

March 27, 2013 By Edith Johnston Leave a Comment

We focus tremendously and appropriately on providing enrichment and stimulating creativity in children. What about us as adults?

The discussion begins on what it means for adults to integrate enrichment and creativity with permission into our lives. Step on over to -

An Intense Life | Embracing chaos every day read away and join the conversation. Sooooo….You, the child, can come out and play.

Filed Under: A Journey in Personal Development

Control; What Control?

March 25, 2013 By Edith Johnston Leave a Comment

So every day is a challenge to fit in or not fit in. Everything around me creates a roller coaster of sensations. There are expectations galore. Do I have any control of who I am; how I experience; and what I do?

Let’s explore what seems out of control. Then let’s figure out how we do have choice and can manage the chaos.

So this moment I will start with the emotional roller coaster. I have learned over the years to box in the emotions. Too many comments of: you are so emotional, why are you crying now, what has got into you? Yes I now understand the vast array and extremes of emotions are a natural part of who I am as a multi-talent – gifted individual. It still does not make it easy. And I know that containment is not the answer for control. The need to recognize and acknowledge the emotions, the feelings, the experience is a must. Not feeling is not an answer to express me wholeheartedly. Yes, I know the factor of respecting others, the place and the time. However, it is very important to respect me also. The “control” comes from allowing me to express the feelings – the wide range of emotions. Yes, sometimes tapered, but yet more often than not in an appropriate manner to their fullest extent. That is who I am. Many times I will cry alone. There is a need to reach out for empathy and compassion, and feeling ok to do so. I cannot control the river of emotions, but I can provide some guiding banks, and some flow through energy producing dams.

Control is not perfect containment. Control is trusting, guiding, the flow of expression – of emotions. Rivers even with their wild rapids are better than geysers when it comes to emotions. There is power in emotions – for destruction and creation, of self and others. Acknowledging, knowing, experiencing and expressing emotions are part of the ‘control’. Yes I will look at the benefits of the rain brings and be sure to look for the rainbows.

There are many more aspects of our lives that we look at for controlling, many ways to experience ourselves wholeheartedly. There is an opportunity to discuss Control of the chaos in life at the teleclass on March 27^th at 7 pm MDT. Sign up for the newsletter to get the call in information. Another opportunity is in the comment section here. How do you see and control the chaos in your life?

Filed Under: A Journey in Personal Development, Overcoming Tagged With: chaos, Edith Johnston, intense emotions

Me…… Connecting?

March 16, 2013 By Edith Johnston Leave a Comment

I wonder who I am. I wonder if there are any others like me. I wonder how you make connections with others. I wonder what the pattern will be when the dots are connected.

I see myself as not fitting in and feel alone. However, that is not the total reality. Having high abilities means there aren’t as many of us around, but there is more than just me. Finding the circles to connect within takes a little effort. All my special interests are a good place to start. Find the groups that are interested in astronomy, geology, music, dance, science fiction, art, math, engineering… etc. That way I can make connections and meet people that think like me.

Other ways to connect with people like me involves searching for those that have common passions or have identified themselves in groups like Mensa, gifted, talented, renaissance souls, scanners, multi-potentiates, or professional groups. These groups can be in the community, regional, national, international or online. Conversations and interactions are happening in many places and often.

Now I know the majority of the people I interact with daily, just don’t think or experience life like I do. However, we are connecting (at least bumping into each other) every day. It would be really helpful if we could actually communicate. Yes, I know we have different reference points (at least I know I can understand that there are different reference points). Thus with different ways of perceiving things, I need to step outside my shoes and try walking in theirs. I have the ability. I do care. Thus, I need to side step the frustration, the lack of being understood, and focus on understanding and what the communication exchange is all about. I need to take the time to slow my thought process down, listen, and clarify what we both are trying to communicate. What do you know, we can connect!!

Then there is the big picture; everything that is going on around me, in the world, past-present-future, facts and possibilities. My connections may times take leaps or can see both the young and old woman simultaneously. I see the problems and multiple solutions. I see the challenge with a resolution among the forest and the trees. The dots are everywhere and the options are many and varied for their connections. Choosing and pursuing can be difficult and exhilarating. Playing dot to dot is fun.

How about you – are you making connections? Where are you making connections? What kind of connections are you making? How are you making the connections?

Filed Under: A Journey in Personal Development, Connecting Tagged With: communication, connecting, Edith Johnston

A Rock is a Rock or is it Not?

March 3, 2013 By Edith Johnston Leave a Comment

A rock or an adventure

This is a quartz rock. Yes it is a rock. However it is a memory of an adventure.

My sons and I wanted to find ‘hard’ rocks – We obtained a geological map for the area that showed the different rock type of rock layers and where they were located. We looked at a road map (before the days of common GPS apps). We identified a quartz vein that we could reach. We piled into the jeep with dogs, cousin, and food (with boys you cannot forget food). We were off on our adventure. We went over hill and through dales and up and down mountain and ravine. We found the dry creek bed that led to the quartz vein. We hopped rocks (a favorite activity for young boys and dogs). Then we saw them – not little pebbles or small chips of quartz, but ROCKS of quartz. We were excited. The quartz vein was a reality. The fun was in the process and the discovery (as well as the running and jumping and playing). We had made our little discovery. It was an accomplishment. We knew now it could be done!

The adventures, the challenges, the satisfying curiosity whether on a small scale or a large scale is part of being and developing who we are. Go out and explore today!

Filed Under: A Journey in Personal Development, Let's Play Tagged With: adventures, Edith Johnston, self discovery

Expressing Me???

March 1, 2013 By Edith Johnston Leave a Comment

I have so much bottled up inside me, that just has to come out. I get started on so many things and nothing is completed. I create in many ways but it is not accepted or respected. I make a benchmark and then run away.

I dance, sing, play my heart out. Then ask will I ever make it? I write with fervor and not understood. I present ideas that are not seen to connect. I envision things so differently and no one takes notice.

Moments occur when I am in my element and everything else is a blur. The results are amazing. I do not believe it myself. Better not share as it does not make the mark.

Receive accolades; lots of applause, asked to do it again, can’t believe this is real. Is it real? Can I maintain the expectations now (mine and theirs)?

The program works. The results are great. It is making an impact. Where do I go from here? Do I continue, let go, or quickly hide as not to disappoint?

Can’t they see the solution? Don’t they understand there are obvious options? Why can’t it be done differently?

We have a strong need to express and experience our multi-talents. The life we have undergone to this point effects how we respond to that need. If we have endured – lack of support, ridicule, been discounted, misunderstood, ‘failed’; then it takes greater courage and determination to express openly. Know that it is ok to express for yourself. Let the experience be a personal one. Know also that it is ok to be different and stand out. Expression creates its own energy and things will happen.

There is magic and mystery in the expression of our multi-talents. There is a reality in expression only known by the experience. That experience in all its glory is enough.

There is also a responsibility to you and others to express your multi-talents. What you have to offer the world needs. This may seem cliché. However, think about it a moment. Where have the wondrous gifts of the arts, sciences, innovation, problem solutions (in the kitchen or in the world) come from? They have come from the expression of an individual’s talents / gifts / ideas / visions / BEING.

Feel that spark inside. Get to know that spark inside. Fan the spark and let the fireworks come forth. Express your being with exuberance. Be in the flow of your experience. We thank you!!!!

Filed Under: A Journey in Personal Development, Expressing Tagged With: Edith Johnston, multi-talented, responsibility

Wandering

February 17, 2013 By Edith Johnston Leave a Comment