author. speaker. motivator.
Affectionately known as "America's #1 Success Coach," Jack Canfield is the originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and a leading authority in the areas of self-esteem, achievement motivation, and peak performance. [www.jackcanfield.com]
political powerhouse. media mogul. author.
Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]
author. speaker. linchpin.
Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]
yogi. philanthropist. dynamic teacher.
Krishna Kaur is the founder of YOGA for Youth, a program that takes yoga, meditation, and stimulating discussions on the philosophy of yoga to urban youth. [www.yogaforyouth.org]
producer. philanthropist. tv legend.
Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]
race car driver. activist. carbon free girl.
Leilani Münter is a professional race car driver and an environmental activist who uses her voice in the number one spectator sport in America as a catalyst for change. [www.leilanimunter.com]
Freedom Fighter. Philanthropist. Game Changer.
By going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders, Kevin Bales exposed modern slavery's penetration into the global economy. He co-founded Free the Slaves, which has helped to liberate thousands of slaves. [www.freetheslaves.net]
mom. big dreamer. lady in red.
Sophie Chiche, lifebyme.com founder and curator, enjoys asking deep questions and living a life of meaning. Today she's launching Shape House, an urban sweat lodge, a place to melt away fears and fat. [www.shapehousela.com]
Writer. Entrepreneur. Daily Lover.
Entrepreneur and writer Mastin Kipp founded TheDailyLove.com, which merges pop culture with inspiration, and co-founded The Love Yourself Company, an apparel company that has started a global self-esteem movement. [www.TheDailyLove.com]
singer. musician. crier.
Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]
archbishop. author. peaceful leader.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is Chairman of The Elders, a group of world leaders who address some of the world's most pressing problems. He works energetically for human-rights and in his ministry. [www.tutu.org]
author. ceo. humanitarian.
Zainab Salbi is the founder and CEO of Women for Women International, a group dedicated to helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives. [www.womenforwomen.org]
speaker. psychotherapist. life embracer.
Despite his physical challenges, Sean Stephenson has taken a stand for a quality of life that has inspired millions of people around the world. He's a professional speaker, psychotherapist, and author. [www.timetostand.com]
yogi. meditator. teacher.
Kia Miller teaches Yoga at Yoga Works in Los Angeles, leads teacher trainings, and runs retreats and workshops on meditation, chakras, pranayam, and mantras, and other practices. [www.kiamiller.com]
creator. writer. idea geek.
Simon Mainwaring is an ex-Nike/Wieden creative, former Worldwide Creative Director at Motorola/Ogilvy, branding/advertising writer, author/speaker/blogger, Australian, idea geek. [www.simonmainwaring.com]
Strategist. Writer. Life Coach.
Shannon Bindler is a style editor, life coach, and the co-founder of Get Up Girl, an empowerment company that inspires women to shine. [www.getupgirl.com]
Designer. Art Director. Passionate Creator.
Grammy-nominated art director/designer/photographer Mathieu Bitton has designed over 450 CDs and movie posters. He's a renowned collector of and authority on black films and their soundtracks. [www.candytangerine.com]
Agent. Producer. Photography Enthusiast.
Opus Reps founder and agent-producer Jorge Perez travels the world producing photo shoots with great photographers and celebrities. He's also very involved with Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles. www.opusreps.com
flaw power
Grace Kerina
writer's shepherd. meaning beacon. surreal stepmama.
Grace Kerina founded The Writer's Shepherd to help people find their own words and bring their unique wisdom into the open. Her goal is to eliminate writer's block from the planet. [www.the-writers-shepherd.com]
When I was two, I wouldn’t go anywhere if my socks were wrinkled up inside my shoes, so Mom took my shoes on and off, trying to smooth those wrinkles. When I was four, Mom ironed a dress for me to wear to preschool, but I refused to wear it and she couldn’t figure out why. So while I was at school she washed and ironed all my dresses, and from then on I chose for myself what to wear. In high school, I’d get so upset when Mom came to wake me up that she bought me an alarm clock and let me work out my waking up issues for myself.
Mom knew I was different. I was born with an extra sensitive nervous system, one that processes sensory information differently. So was Mom. But we both grew up before knowing about the trait or having a name for it. Mom called me independent and stubborn and creative. She tried to help me enjoy myself and work with who I am. She gave me solid ground to stand on and reach from, by not calling the innate way I am “wrong.”
According to Elaine Aron, the scientist psychologist who wrote a pioneering book about highly sensitive people (HSPs), this innate trait is found in 15 to 20 percent of humans (and also in animals). That means you’re likely to know some highly sensing people. Or even to be one.
High sensitivity arises from a physical construction of brain and body that produces heightened reactions to all sorts of things, from textures and smells to light and sound to people and thoughts and more.
Because of the work and support of Aron and others, highly sensing people are getting proud in greater numbers. Our “flaw” is transmuting into a power. Women did it. Gays did it. Nerds did it. Now HSPs are doing it – turning a natural quality sometimes disparaged by society into something to be proud of, something valuable.
With Mom’s help, by accepting my flaw I turned it into fuel. Pain became power, pride, and community. You can do this, too: Name all the blessings in your “flaw.” Find your people. Celebrate together.
What would a pride parade look like for HSPs? Maybe a public silent meditation, or a group hike through the woods on a warm spring day, or a barefoot conga line winding along a sandy beach in rhythm with the swooshing waves.
– Grace Kerina
Explore More Meaning
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pr consultant. screenwriter. destiny designer.
Cecelia Fresh is a communicator, founder of herself, and budding screenwriter. She's been fortunate to work for several great companies as a PR consultant. [http://about.me/Fr3shc0M]
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awareness seeker. conscious music maker. helpful exaggerator.
Singer, songwriter, and producer Eric Lumiere is a Lover of Life and all things, and lives for the upliftment of consciousness everywhere. He is also graduate of Teen Insight. This piece is part of the Insight University and Life By Me week of giving back. [www.givingtuesday.org/insight-university]
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amused mom. choice expert. systematic investigator.
Sheena Iyengar is a world-renowned expert on choice. Her insights are invaluable to businesses, and to every individual trying to make positive and lasting changes in their lives. [www.sheenaiyengar.com]
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jokester. humorous healer. quick quipper.
Actor, comic, and writer, Teddy Margas, is co-founder of the Queers of Comedy. He's appeared in StreepTease, Margaret Cho's Blind Dinner Party, and The Women of Woody, An Evening of Iconic Woody Allen Women performed by an All-Male Cast. [www.teddymargas.com]
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grateful mom. connector. flexible traveler.
Melissa Bradley is the founder of Indagare, a member-based online community for sophisticated travelers, providing access to curated online archives, printed guides, and custom advisory and booking services. [www.indagare.com]
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holistic creator. moment reflector. paint alchemist.
Nazim is a practicing fine artist making art within the quantum holistic paradigm. He and his wife, Celeste, have formed the Art of Wellness Collection. [www.NazimArtist.com]
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comedian. writer. blond.
Jamie Gaul is a writer, improviser and stand up comedian in Los Angeles, CA. Whether she is on stage or off, she looks to help people find joy in life through laughter. [www.jamie-gaul.com]
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coach. inner travel adventurer. tribal truster.
Jesse Gros, a unique outdoor adventure guide, is just as passionate about the inner journey as he is about the outer adventure. [www.insightadventures.com]
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