Brave Writer 298. Wise Effort with Diana Hill
Jul 30, 2025
Dr. Diana Hill, a clinical psychologist and author of Wise Effort, shares her insights on harnessing our 'genius energy' effectively. She discusses the importance of using personal strengths wisely rather than succumbing to self-improvement pressures. Diana explores how recognizing our gifts can prevent them from becoming liabilities and emphasizes the value of interdependence for collective resilience. She also highlights practical strategies for families to discover and cultivate strengths while maintaining balance in a fast-paced world.
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Genius Energy Is Multifaceted
- Genius energy is a mix of temperament, interests, emotional intelligence, and character strengths that shape how you contribute.
- Diana Hill frames genius as natural capacities to be recognized and skillfully directed, not fixed labels.
Strengths Can Become Liabilities
- Strengths can become problems when they run unchecked or are used as avoidance strategies.
- Hill urges spotting how your gifts might cause friction so you can steer them back toward values.
Pause Before Defaulting To Your Strength
- Notice when you use a strength to avoid discomfort and pause before defaulting to it.
- Replace automatic reactions with a deliberate, value-aligned response to avoid misdirected energy.
