How Does Someone Become Well-Rounded and Whole?

 

Guiding Question: What Makes For a Healthier/Safer/More Stable Sense of Identity Than One’s Rare Abilities?

The topic this week was being a “whole person” that exists as more than their gifts (even while living in a busy driven brain that seems to dominate). We talked about why a person’s true value and worth has nothing to do with their talents, intelligence, or personality traits. People are valuable simply for being themselves and existing. There are helpful and not so helpful things about the way anyone is wired. 

“Giftedness is a trait that shapes people's lives, but you get to decide what defines you.”

Here’s an exercise to try with the above sentiment: Finish the sentence “I am…” as many times as you can with personality traits that describe you (fun-loving, hardworking, etc.), roles (son, daughter), and anything else that comes to mind. Notice just how many valuable things you are to yourself and other people. 

Optional Artistic Homework: Complete the “coat of arms” activity discussed in class. Choose a favorite shape, meaningful colors, motto, an animal that matches your personality, symbols for favorite activities, and symbols for your values and traits listed above (curiosity = lightbulb?), along with anything else you can think of to make an original personal statement.

Consider these additional questions/activities:

• How many “hats” do you wear in life? Think back to our historical exploration of the expression “some people wear a lot of hats.”

• Where do you place most of your identity (the hat you are most proud of or wear the most)?

• What would happen if you lost that hat?

• Now imagine you are juggling all of your hats. As a juggler, you can drop one or two hats and pick them up later (your identity as a runner, being in choir, a hobby, etc.). But maybe you have a glass ball in with your hats (the glass ball is your mental health). Try not to drop the glass ball.