Two worlds within your head

For some time now I’ve been engrossed in Iain McGilchrist’s book The Master and his Emissary about the “working methods” of our two brain hemispheres, and his even more substantive follow-up book The Matter with Things. I personally do not find his very thorough books pleasant to read, but fortunately his idea (or Hemisphere Theory, as he calls it), is … ….. read on

The Inner Experience of Xi

In my previous blog, an XIP in full view, I explored how relevant it is to be aware of one’s way of processing sensorial information, and how this operates in a completely different manner compared to one’s way of rational information processing. The uncommonness of XIPs and gifted people expresses itself in both modalities, but the sensorial mode may be … ….. read on

An XIP in full view

For many years I have been searching for ways to extend the concept of imaginal thinking to other forms of “sensorial thinking”. I know many XIPs who are not very proficient in their visual information processing, but clearly prefer to think in ways that are comparable to imaginal thinking, using other sensorial input. And because they are XIPs, they do … ….. read on

A theme to grow into

Are you an XIP, extra intelligent, extra intense, or gifted? How relevant, helpful and accurate is such an indication, such a label for you nowadays? As you may feel reluctant to apply this label to yourself or to others, you may also feel that you don’t want to talk about it anymore after a while. Compare it to cancelling your … ….. read on

How to Learn Intensely

Many XIPs have an innate preference for a specific mode of taking in and processing information without being aware of this. Their environment usually offers information in a certain mode, which may or may not provide an adequate fit for them. One may compare the results to having to listen, think and speak in your mother tongue, or in your … ….. read on

Coping with Solitude

In this blog I explore different perspectives on dealing with solitude for the Gifted and extra intelligent people (XIPs). My question is: Does a different perspective lead to different feelings and is that helpful? When I look up “solitude” in a dictionary, I find: 1.   the state or situation of being alone. 2.   a lonely or uninhabited place. Various perspectives … ….. read on

Objective and Subjective:

What’s my Perspective? While there are similarities in the approach both to the theme of giftedness and of extra intelligence (Xi), most differences can be related to the chosen perspective: Do you prefer objectively verifiable statements, even about yourself, or do you find it stimulating to use your own sensory experiences as a reference. In this blog I will compare … ….. read on

Too Much, or Just Right?

The theme intensity continues to intrigue me. Recently I was working on a presentation with the title: “Enjoying your extra intensity.” My attention was drawn by the original term for what has become known in English as “Overexcitability”. The Polish word used by Dabrowski “nadpobudliwość“ is more correctly translated as hyper- or superstimulatability. It is a diagnostic term in the … ….. read on

A Manual Helps

Suppose you buy a nice new piece of electronics, recommended by your friends or the media: unparalleled function and quality! At home, you remove its packaging; let the show begin! But unfortunately, it’s not working, or only partly. While one asks friends or experts, another starts searching for the manual, a third keeps on pressing all buttons, and a fourth … ….. read on

Welcome your Intensity

I like to use the characterization of gifted people by Mary-Elaine Jacobsen: They are uncommonly intense, complex and driven. (See webpage.) That characterization can be easily extended to all XIPs: In fact, it can be used as a kind of universal way of identifying this specific “group”, whether their gifts/talents are in academic achievements, sports, arts, counselling, healthcare, management, or … ….. read on