Your Rainforest Mind

Book: Your Rainforest Mind Author: Paula Prober

Introduction

• All ecosystems are beautiful, but a rainforest is more complicated, creative, sensitive, fragile, multilayered
• Can give more when allowed to be itself

Language:

• D - I shall be presenting my version, you can decide if it works for you
• L - Effervescent
• P - "not enough" and "too much" at the same time

1. Too much: Intensity, Sensitivity, Empathy

• Reduce the self-imposed pressure to be thorough, [fast] and exacting. Try doing those activities for pleasure
• Compassion and healthy boundaries are compatible; Limit the involvement is others' problems, so that there's more energy to be efficient in the long term
• Cheerfullness as a typical RFM coping strategy

Strategies

• Protect yourself when you feel assaulted by noise, smells, emotions, thoughts, chemicals, bad architecture
  • Leave early, step away
  • Wear sunglasses, earplugs, wear hooded sweatshirts
  • Breathe slowly
  • Visualize protection
• Find a creative outlet to be as 'much' as you are
• For sleep:
  • Make a list of things that bother you to pick up tomorrow
  • Calming music
  • PMR, AT; breathing
  • Different combinations of melatonin and/or herbal remedies
  • Dreams can be as fascinating as real life
• Find activities and people that allow you to be intense
  • Debate, chess, running marathons
• T - Make a list of things that relax you
  • Massage
  • Herbal remedies, flower essences
  • Excercise
  • Mindfulness, prayer, yoga, energy touch, tai chi
  • Painting

Resources:

• Internal family systems therapy
• The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You (Book)
• Healing Through the Dark Emotions: The Wisdom of Grief, Fear, and Despair "Excellent book if you want to do some deep emotional work"

Language:

• L - pungent
• P - while X and Y might be important to many people, you might find them indispensable
• LP - It rubs off on me