We suffer not from lack, but from paralyzing abundance. Our vast array of interests make it difficult to choose just one thing and give it the attention to detail our idealistic standards feel it deserves. But Kazimierz Dabrowski says that dissatisfaction with oneself is actually a crucial step toward positive personality development. It is only useful though if it can be directed toward achieving your personal ideal through conscious action.

In this episode of Embracing Intensity, we’ll explore ways simplify your life so you have time to channel your energy in a positive direction.

In this episode:

• 4 ways to simplify your life. 
• Putting systems in place to make your life easier. 
• Focusing your energy on your own "zone of genius"

Links:

Embracing Intensity Community

Embracing Intensity Store

"Disruption in your life is an opportunity to play and it's helping you disrupt yourself on purpose as a way to bring out that curiosity and wonder when you're in a rut."

We wrapped up our Summer Camp Scavenger Hunt in the Embracing Intensity Community with a talk from Gary Ware on Finding Your Way Back to the Playground. 

In this episode:

• The importance of play.
• 7 paths to bring more play into your life. 
• The difference between childlike and childish.
• Facing your gremlins that tell you you can't do things. 
• Living life with childlike wonder, curiosity and enthusiasm.

Resources:

Executive Functioning Summit - Affiliate Link

Gwen Gordon Plays

Dr. Stuart Brown - Playcore

Jane McGonigal

The Nerdist Way

Harnessing the Power of Your Intensity Workbook

Embracing Intensity Community

Today’s show features a guest who approaches every day with creativity and humor. She’s a financial expert who embraces her intensity and has the answer to your money questions.

Lisa Brumm and I met a few years ago when she spoke at an event. She is an active member of my online community, so we regularly connect and meet at local networking events around the Portland area. Lisa’s company, My Financial Girlfriend, has offices in Portland and Los Angeles. Lisa offers a shame-free zone to help women with all areas of their finances and leave them with a newfound sense of hope and relief about money and life.

Show Highlights:

• Lisa’s intense passion around travel, the Pacific Northwest, family, and her business that educates and empowers women with financial literacy
• How Lisa’s personal brand of intensity stems from a bent toward humor and a voice that doesn’t hold back; her inner drive to make things better leads her to ask questions to bring perspective to a male-dominated profession
• How Lisa learned as a kid to use humor to deflect bullying
• Culturally, Lisa as a kid was “a rare bird,” a girl who loved math and science
• How Lisa’s parents encouraged her to use unique personal expression, but she learned to tone down her opinions and control her emotions to preserve friendships
• How Lisa uses her fire to lobby for consensus
• How parenting challenges with her two kids sometimes prompted her intensity to get out of control
• How Lisa dealt with the learning diversity in her family with creativity and acceptance
• How Lisa harnesses the power of her intensity by being persistent and tenacious and taking things at face value
• Why the division of work in Lisa’s household is a little unconventional
• The best advice Lisa ever received relates to raising kids; she learned to “Let them be” as far as exploring and figuring out the world
• A book to recommend: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
• How Lisa helps others by giving people a safe, non-judgmental space to see what they haven’t seen before, especially as it relates to financial literacy
• Final words from Lisa: “Own your intensity, whatever it might be. There is room for everyone in this world.”

Resources:

My Financial Girlfriend

Find My Financial Girlfriend on Facebook and LinkedIn

Email: lisa@myfinancialgirlfriend.com 

I've been thinking a lot about play lately, but also feeling bad talking about play when there's so much going on in the world right now. In my interview last week with Jeff Harry, he reminded us that "there's nothing wrong with having multiple emotions at the same time," and that play can be used to help deal with challenging things and conversations. 

In this episode:

• The difference between play and toxic positivity.
• Play as a form of self-care.
• Why play isn't just something for kids.

Links:

Summer Camp Scavenger Hunt

Embracing Intensity Community

Harnessing the Power of Your Intensity Workbook