2016 Annual Conference

Rarely do you see the phrase "gifted adult" and with even greater rarity do you find adults that embrace the label "gifted" as fitting for who they are as a person. During this presentation you will go on a journey of discovering that, YES YOU are gifted!

Have you ever felt like you were a minority of one in your thought processes? Attempting to navigate the norms, but feeling somewhat outside of the lines no matter how hard you try to stay "in the lines"? Would you describe yourself as a keen observer, intuitive (able to discern the feelings of individuals around you), a problem solver, one that has a strong sense of justice, and driven to fulfill a life purpose? If you are still reading this with interest, this session is for you! Yes, this is for you...even if you don't consider yourself "gifted".

"Are you relentlessly curious and creative, always willing to rock the boat in order to get things done . . . extremely energetic and focused, yet constantly switching gears . . . intensely sensitive, able to intuit subtly charged situations and decipher others' feeling? If these traits sound familiar, then you may be an Everyday Genius--an ordinary person of unusual vision who breaks the mold and isn't afraid to push progress forward." The aforementioned quote comes directly from Dr. Mary-Elaine Jacobsen's book, The Gifted Adult, which helps to uncover how many adults are "everyday geniuses" unaware. During this session we will look at some of the psychological factors that can come into play as a gifted adult; such as feelings of isolation or being misunderstood. Furthermore, we will look at some case studies of how "giftedness" can manifest in the workplace and everyday life. You will leave this session with a greater understanding of why you are the way you are, and how you can best embrace your true self while having an impact on the world around you. If you still don't see yourself as a "gifted" individual, you will learn how to support others that exude "gifted" qualities.