Please Put Me Back Where You Found MeWritten by Nancy R. Fenn
Parents who have introverted children wonder how to help them build a positive self image. We understand today that Introversion is a legitimate personality type. But not too long ago, introverts were labeled as “neurotic” or “loners”. Introverted children can be misunderstood at school and with relatives. It is our loving job as parents to advocate for our introverted children. But first we must understand and support their needs ourselves. I recently interviewed Susan Harbison, an introvert and mother of one year old Emma Kate, also an introvert. Listen as Susan describes her experiences with her daughter. Notice Emma Kate’s introverted characteristics. Already at one year old, she is territorial, intense, has ability to focus and concentrate, gravitates away from people and things and is not always “friendly” by extrovert definitions. Susan Harbison begins speaking about herself and her daughter, Emma Kate. “As an introvert it is a delicate and thorny blessing to witness new life process of my tiny daughter, an introvert as well. It is delicate when I smoothly do right thing, easily solve problem or brilliantly stop tantrum because I understand her so well. “It is thorny when I say ‘she is an introvert’ and people shush me quickly saying ‘you don't know that yet...maybe she's just taking it all in and she'll be life of party when she grows up.’ “I did not know that what I am, what I identify with in my own child, is something to be avoided. The more people make excuses for Emma Kate’s intensity, more I am offended for myself. Like her, I was never mean-spirited or spoiled, loud or obnoxious, grasping or needy ... and like her I was pitied. People held out hope that I would some day be nothing like myself and everything more like them…. “For some perverse reason, human beings are attracted to someone that won’t pay attention to them. This poses a problem for my one-year-old daughter who can entertain herself and like most introverts, gravitates away from people and things. Emma Kate is a magnet for people who want to pick her up and have that attention for themselves. The minute they get it, they put her down somewhere else because they have lost interest.
| | Do The Thing You FearWritten by Jan Tincher
Copyright © Jan Tincher - All Rights reserved http://www.tameyourbrain.comEasily said, isn't it? But not so easily done? What if you knew that when you give into fear, that action will set up a path in your brain to be fearful next time, so that next time it's easier to be afraid? That would give you incentive to be more courageous, wouldn't it? Even more, what if you knew that when you act boldly and courageously, that action sets up path in your brain to be bold and courageous next time? Nobody wants to program fear into their lives, but that's what you do when you give into fear. And what does that get you? More fear. If you aren't careful, fear becomes a way of life. Do you want to be courageous? Do courageous things! Even *little* courageous things. The little things turn into big things, and soon you feel courageous almost automatically. The more you do something, more you are able to do it. Remember, there is always a first time for everything. Do it, program your brain that you've done it successfully so your brain will be ready to do it again. If you don't do it, because you are afraid, your brain will continue to bring that fear into your life. That does not mean jumping from an airplane without a parachute. That does not mean making a decision without all facts. That does not mean buying something on credit and HOPE money will come in. Don't think being courageous means doing some gigantic something you would never be able to do. Being courageous, to some people, means going outside their own door. Seeing other people. Talking to people.
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