Jack Canfield Jack Canfield 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]

 
Arianna Huffington Arianna Huffington 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]

 
Seth Godin Seth Godin author. speaker. linchpin.

Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]

 
Krishna Kaur Krishna Kaur 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]

 
Norman Lear Norman Lear 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]

 
Leilani Münter Leilani Münter 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]

 
Kevin Bales Kevin Bales 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]

 
Sophie Chiche Sophie Chiche 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]

 
Mastin Kipp Mastin Kipp 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]

 
Liz Phair Liz Phair singer. musician. crier.

Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]

 
Desmond Tutu Desmond Tutu 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]

 
Zainab Salbi Zainab Salbi 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]

 
Sean Stephenson Sean Stephenson 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]

 
Kia Miller Kia Miller 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]

 
Simon Mainwaring Simon Mainwaring 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]

 
Shannon Bindler Shannon Bindler 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]

 
Mathieu Bitton Mathieu Bitton 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]

 
Jorge Perez Jorge Perez 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 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

Comments

Explore More Meaning

  • Holly Sidell
    Holly Sidell Holly Sidell Healer. Writer. Astrological Empowerer.

    Holly Sidell is a writer, spiritual fitness teacher, and astrological empowerer who inspires you to choose your own Happily Ever After. [www.hollysidell.com]

     
  • Danny  Miller
    Danny  Miller Danny Miller writer. book editor. daddy.

    Danny Miller is a writer and book editor. He's a contributor to the Huffington Post and regularly writes in his own blog, "Jew Eat Yet?" [http://dannymiller.typepad.com]

     
  • Judy Clement Wall
    Judy Clement Wall Judy Clement Wall author. lover. cheesecake enthusiast.

    Author Judy Clement Wall recently finished her first book, a literary novel about love (and some other things). She also has a blog, Zebra Sounds. [http://zebrasounds.net]

     
  • Mike Meeker
    Mike Meeker Mike Meeker musician. dad. digital renaissance man.

    Mike Meeker is a father, musician, yogi, surfer, and digital renaissance man. His mission is to inspire his audience as he finds creative ways to affect the quality of the day. [www.mikemeeker.com]

     
  • Tahyira Savanna
    Tahyira Savanna Tahyira Savanna granddaughter. continuous grower. self pusher.

    Tahyira Savanna is a 24-year-old entrepreneur, talent manager, writer, blogger, dancer, and innovator. A Brooklyn native, she works every day to be a better person than she was the day before. [www.allinayearstime.blogspot.com]

     
  • Jonathan Parker
    Jonathan Parker Jonathan Parker author. spiritual transformer. teacher.

    Jonathan Parker is an author and spiritual counselor with more than 30 years of experience teaching energy healing and enlightenment. He founded Quantum Quests International, Inc. [www.JonathanParker.org]

     
  • Michaela Boehm
    Michaela Boehm Michaela Boehm dedicated practitioner. experiencer. woman.

    Michaela Boehm is a counselor and teacher. She's currently the only counselor personally trained and authorized by David Deida, who she began co-teaching with in 2007, focusing on women's empowerment. [www.michaelaboehm.com]

     
  • Todd Murray
    Todd Murray Todd Murray musical multi-tasker. quest seeker. early starter.

    Todd Murray uses both sides of his brain. He's a professional singer/songwriter and a businessman. He's a documentarian, real-estate owner/manager, co-owner of gvbradio.com, dog lover ... and he cans pickles. [www.ToddMurray.com]

     
  • More

Contributors

  • Steve Chandler
    Steve Chandler Steve Chandler coach. trainer. time warrior.

    Steve Chandler is a corporate trainer, business coach, and co-founder of the World Mastermind network, Club Fearless. He is the best-selling author of Time Warrior. [www.stevechandler.com]

     
  • Sarah Seidelmann
    Sarah Seidelmann Sarah Seidelmann life coach. physician. light source.

    Author and life coach Sarah Seidelmann, MD, is a Board-Certified physician who left her practice to live out her destiny. In her work, she loves to ask, "How good are you willing to let it get?" [http://whatthewalrusknows.com]

     
  • Max Lugavere
    Max Lugavere Max Lugavere musician. producer. curious quester.

    Max Lugavere is a co-founding host and producer of Al Gore's TV network. He's also a celebrity ambassador for Causecast.org, a singer-songwriter, and founder of the non-profit concert series Rockdrive. [http://twitter.com/#!/maxlugavere]

     
  • Alexis Wolfer
    Alexis Wolfer Alexis Wolfer magazine founder. conversation sparker. inner beauty queen.

    Concerned with the media focus on unrealistic body ideals, Alexis Wolfer founded the glamorous site The Beauty Bean, a free online magazine and newsletter focused on health and inner beauty. [www.thebeautybean.com]

     
  • Jim Moret
    Jim Moret Jim Moret television journalist. author. chief correspondent.

    Jim Moret is a veteran television journalist, author, and attorney who's currently Chief Correspondent for Inside Edition and a CNN contributor. [www.jimmoret.com]

     
  • Maya Corinne
    Maya Corinne Maya Corinne legacy architect. earth mama. celebrity stylist.

    Maya Corinne teaches conscious creative visionaries how to magnify privilege. Her studio has raised millions, and crafts values-infused giving plans for clients collectively worth more than $14 billion. [www.moon-storm.com]

     
  • Peggy Drexler
    Peggy Drexler Peggy Drexler mother. author. dog lover.

    Peggy Drexler, Ph.D., is a research psychologist, assistant professor of psychology at Cornell, and author of two books about gender and family. She's currently working on a book about the impact of wealth on childrearing. [www.peggydrexler.com]

     
  • Dan Millman
    Dan Millman Dan Millman author. teacher. peaceful warrior.

    Dan Millman, a former world champion athlete, martial arts instructor, and college professor, is a teacher and bestselling author with a worldwide audience. [www.peacefulwarrior.com]

     
  • Andrea Lewis
    Andrea Lewis Andrea Lewis story re-writer. blame releaser. pep talker.

    Andrea Lewis is the author of Dramaville is a not a place; it's a state of mind, a memoir filled with drama, emotional turmoil, and the inspiration to never give up. [www.andreamlewis.com/dramaville]

     
  • Wallace J. Nichols
    Wallace J. Nichols Wallace J. Nichols ocean lover. conservation advocate. thoughtful dad.

    Dr. Wallace J. Nichols is a scientist, ocean advocate, writer, and dad. He knows that what moves us is connecting with something bigger than ourselves. His most recent endeavor is the Billion Baby Turtle Project. [www.wallacejnichols.org]

     
  • Leilani Münter
    Leilani Münter Leilani Münter 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]

     
  • Nazim Artist
    Nazim Artist Nazim Artist 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]

     
  • Kyle Hermans
    Kyle Hermans Kyle Hermans creativity facilitator. inspired dad. theater baby.

    Kyle Hermans runs the West Coast division of Synecticsworld, a global innovation and creativity firm. He's deeply committed to releasing and enriching the creativity of others. [www.synecticsworld.com]

     
  • Lissa Rankin
    Lissa Rankin Lissa Rankin pink medicine revolutionary. community builder. mojo reconnector.

    Author, artist, motivational speaker, and Pink Medicine Revolutionary Lissa Rankin, MD, founded OwningPink.com, a website and workshops that build authentic community and empower women to get their mojo back. [www.linkedin.com/in/lissarankin]

     
  • Jes Richardson
    Jes Richardson Jes Richardson social/spiritual activist. forest preserver. bridge builder.

    Jes Richardson is a social/spiritual activist whose issues change – protesting the Vietnam War, working with Cesar Chavez's Farm Workers, building a bridge of hearts to Iran – but who always comes from a place of love. [www.BridgeofHearts.org]

     
  • Chandrika Tandon
    Chandrika Tandon Chandrika Tandon infant vocalist. continuous learner. light shiner.

    Chandrika Tandon is a Grammy-nominated singer & composer who has received praise from NY Times for her "limpid, serene voice.” Her new album “Soul March” reinterprets “Raghupathi Raghava Raja Ram,” a song sung by Gandhi and his followers during the 1930 Salt March.

     
  • Don Jose Ruiz
    Don Jose Ruiz Don Jose Ruiz author. musician. shaman.

    Don Jose Ruiz dedicates his life to combining and sharing new insights and ancient Toltec wisdom. He teaches and lectures around the world. [www.miguelruiz.com]

     
  • Alison Levine
    Alison Levine Alison Levine high climber. responsible risker. philanthropist.

    Alison Levine is a mountaineer, explorer, teacher, and founder of the Climb High Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of African women by training them to be local guides and porters. [www.alisonlevine.com]

     
  • Leslie Carr
    Leslie Carr Leslie Carr self explorer. non-judger. surface scratcher.

    Dr. Leslie Carr is a psychologist who is reluctant to give advice, preferring instead to help people figure out their best course of action – no judgement allowed. [www.lesliecarr.com]

     
  • Bryant McGill
    Bryant McGill Bryant McGill heartfelt activist. truth detective. passionate space-seeker.

    Bryant McGill is an internationally renowned author, essayist, speaker, and activist in the fields of self-development, personal freedom, and human rights. [www.bryantmcgill.com/vor]

     
  • Susannah Charleson
    Susannah Charleson Susannah Charleson wondering author. canine specialist. student of shirley.

    Susannah Charleson is the author of New York Times bestseller Scent of the Missing and, recently, The Possibility Dogs. She is a flight instructor, canine search-and-rescue specialist, and service dog trainer.

     
  • Robert Kiraz
    Robert Kiraz Robert Kiraz broadcaster. event magician. communicator.

    Robert Kiraz is the founder and CEO of Vokle, a revolutionary live broadcasting platform for hosting interactive events. [www.vokle.com]

     
  • Claudia Altucher
    Claudia Altucher Claudia Altucher yogi. truth pursuer. no bs'er.

    Claudia Azula Altucher is an ardent student and teacher of yoga, meditation, and philosophy. She has travelled the world in search of truth only to realize that it can only be found within. [www.claudiayoga.com]

     
  • Mike Riera
    Mike Riera Mike Riera speaker. author. parental philosopher.

    Mike Riera, PhD, speaks and writes on the topic of understanding teenagers and children. [www.mikeriera.com]

     
  • Michael E. Gerber
    Michael E. Gerber Michael E. Gerber original thinker. entrepreneurial leader. knowledge hunter.

    Over the years, Michael E. Gerber's?companies have helped tens of thousands of small business owners to successfully transform their businesses into world-class operations. [www.michaelegerbercompanies.com]

     
  • Julie Simon
    Julie Simon Julie Simon former dieter. current helper. self acceptance discoverer.

    Julie M. Simon, MA, MBA, MFT is a psychotherapist, life coach, personal trainer, speaker and author of The Emotional Eater’s Repair Manual: A Practical Guide for Putting an End to Overeating and Dieting, based on her 12 Week Program. [www.overeatingrecovery.com]

     
  • Rasanath Dasa
    Rasanath Dasa Rasanath Dasa full-time monk. compassionate mentor. instrument of growth.

    Rasanath Dasa went from being an investment banker on Wall Street to being a monk of the Bhakti tradition. He draws his spiritual wisdom from a wide range of personal experiences. [www.gitanyc.com]

     
  • Lynda Filler
    Lynda Filler Lynda Filler poet. photographer. lover.

    Lynda Filler is a poet, author, photographer, and would-be public speaker who lives in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She has two published poetry books and is currently working on two memoir/biographies. [www.thelovefix.com]

     
  • Mikey Scott
    Mikey Scott Mikey Scott life by me’er. comedian. pretty thankful guy.

    Life By Me’s Content Editor, Mikey Scott, gets to hear stories from people around the world creating meaningful (and pretty darn fun) lives for themselves. And he thinks that’s pretty neat. [www.mikeyscott.com]

     
  • More

Connection


© 2010-2023 lifebyme.com. All rights reserved. (design by nodethirtythree)